Mission Impossible

Chapter 7


"Was that Sakura's mother?" Neji asked, walking into the Yamanaka Flower Shop. On his way here, he had passed by a familiar-looking woman who gave him a once-over. He'd initially thought the circles on her dress were simply designs until he realized she was wearing was an inverted-color version of Sakura's favorite dress when they were genin.

Ino was the first to look up from the conversation she was having with Hinata.

"Yeah," the blonde answered. "Said she was going to visit a grave in the Land of Tea."

"I don't understand why she would visit a grave there and buy flowers here," his cousin frowned. "They'd wilt by the time they arrived."

Something between a snort and a sigh left the Yamanaka as she leaned her elbow against the counter. Her answer came across as a bitter mock.

"Probably just what that witch wants." Ino glared at the door. "Black roses and petunias. Death, anger, and bitterness."

"She's definitely not giving it to a loved one."

Neji's eyes met Hinata's.

Maybe I'll ask about Sasuke and Sakura some other time.


"You staying here tonight?" Sasuke asked as he and Sakura cleared the table. Mikoto and Fugaku were called into an emergency clan meeting along with Itachi who brought Shisui along as his "personal guard". Everyone knew it was just so he had someone around his age to talk trash the elders with.

"I don't think that's appropriate now that we're dating, Sasuke," Sakura laughed.

"So, you can stay here as my friend but not as my girlfriend?" the Uchiha asked, drying the dishes she washed and putting them aside. "Seems a little pointless since you've practically lived here for most of our shinobi career."

"Yes, but now there are… implication," the kunoichi laughed, turning around so she could face him. "Besides, an emergency clan meeting on the day we ran into one of your elders?"

Sasuke was almost proud of the smirk she wore. "I'd say we're doing a pretty good job at this."

He allowed himself a low laugh, shaking his head as he left the kitchen. "It seems like they're going to be awhile, you can get the dobe to come over if you want."

"Are you actually offering to spend time with Naruto?"

He wondered if she knew how sweet her laugh was, and if she did, does she fake it when on kunoichi missions? The thought of sleazy old men – especially the ones that get themselves on the wanted list – momentarily enjoying her company and basking in the glory of her presence didn't sit well with him.

Never has.

But he knew that was part of the reality of her job just as much as killing in cold blood was part of his. He wondered how Naruto felt about Hinata doing it. Although, admittedly, he has trouble seeing the shy and timid Hyuga doing something so brazen.

"What do you think the meeting's about?" Sakura asked, shoving him aside to make room for herself on the sofa.

"You mean aside from how far the main family has fallen to have allowed their children to mate outside the cla – ow!"

"Don't say it like that!" He'd call her rising blush cute if he weren't too busy glaring at her for hitting him over the head. "You make us sound like animals!"

"Yeah well it doesn't matter to the elders," he told her.

"Traditionally, we don't date," Sasuke explained. "Father didn't get his marriage arranged but that was only because he'd already expressed an interest in Kaa-san after they got assigned on a mission together."

"So you're telling me that the Uchiha date to marry?"

He tried to push aside the thought of how disbelief only made her cuter, and focus on the real issue. Most of the time, he forgets how relatively ancient their traditions are compared to other clans. The Nara, Akimichi, and Yamanaka clans have long foregone arranged marriages, as well as the Abarume and Inuzuka. He has no idea what the hell happened to the Hatake clan, but if his sensei is anything to go by, they'd probably benefit from shipping the last known member into an arranged marriage and saving them from extinction.

If he's got all his facts straight, he thinks the only other clan that would probably entertain the thought of arranged marriages would be the Hyuuga.

Doujutsu clans, he thought.

To answer her question, the youngest Uchiha shrugged and looked away.

"Now that I think about it, yeah, I guess so." He returned his gaze to her, a playful smirk playing on the corner of his lips. "But we can always be the first ones to break that. After all, when the mission's over, we're gonna have to break up."

"When we break up can it be because I caught you doing something weird?"

"What? No!"

"No, not like weird weird, just like, maybe you sleep with wet socks on?"

There are very few people Sasuke respects – most he tolerates, some he acknowledges, but respects? He has more fingers than people he respects – and Sakura was definitely up there. She's easily the smartest in their team, probably second only to Shikamaru, Konoha's Next Top Genius (he overheard Sakura refer to him as that courtesy of Ino and it sort of stuck, although he'd rather treat Naruto to an all-you-can-eat buffet at Ichiraku's than admit that.).

Aside from that annoying crush she had on him back when they were kids, he found that there were few things he would and could judge her for.

This was definitely one of them.

Who the fuck comes up with 'sleeps with wet socks on'?!

"That is a disturbingly specific weird thing." He didn't bother stopping the laugh that came with the sentence.

"It has to be to get me to break up with you!" she laughed, leaning her head against his shoulder. "Very few people would let go of Uchiha Sasuke. Or you know, any Uchiha in general."

"Really? So I'm just any Uchiha now?"

She shrugged.

"Dark hair, black eyes, cold as a kunai left out in the snow – I don't know Sasuke-kun, you seem like a pretty typical run-of-the mill Uchiha to me."

Sasuke-kun.

It sounded so easy, so natural, coming from her. It struck him how domestic it all was. They were alone in his childhood home, her head rested on his shoulder while she teased him. If it were anyone else, he'd be alarmed at how naturally he humored her. But this was Sakura, everything came naturally to him when it comes to Sakura. He'd never been the type to show physical affection – or any type of affection at all – but looking back on the day's events, he found that he actually liked it. Although he highly doubts it would be the same if she were anybody else.

He just hopes she's too busy laughing at her own joke to notice how flushed he's gotten.

"Wait, why are you the one who gets to do the dumping?" he asked, more for the sake of redirecting his train of thought than anything else.

"Because why on Earth would you dump me?" she countered.

"Everyone in the village and their grandmother knows you had a massive crush on me as kids."

"Last time I checked, you were the one who couldn't stay away from me." He could see the beginnings of a smirk start to form on her face and fought the urge to back away.

"Always visiting me in my office," she drew closer. This he actually did back away, "scaring away Kaito-kun," she leaned forward, her index finger running circles and zigzags on his chest.

"If I didn't know better, I'd say you were jealous," he knew he was dead when her smirk widened.

"Sa -" her voice dropped to a – dare he say – sultry whisper.

"-Su-" she inched closer. He gulped.

"-Ke-" he'd probably be able to do something if she'd stop running her finger across his chest so he could think straight!

"Kun."

Did she just moan?!

He heard the main door creak open, snapping him out of the spell she'd cast. With a shove – forgetting to check his strength – he pushed her off him, startling a scream from her as she fell off the couch and onto the floor.

"Hey Sasuke, is Sakura-chan still – "

"Sasuke sleeps with wet socks on!"

"Well she spends too much time in her office!"


Itachi wanted nothing more than to just hop into the shower, scrub off the day, and go straight to bed.

The elders made yet another attempt at making him see why Izumi wasn't fit to be the next matriarch – the only evidence they held on to was the fact that her father was not an Uchiha and that her early childhood was spent outside the compound, arguing she couldn't fully understand the culture of the Uchiha despite spending most of her life within the compound surrounded by relatives.

Sometimes he wonders if they'd be as brazen as to say that if she were around considering she was one of the few members of the clan that actually made jounin and became a sensei instead of defaulting to the police force like most. Not to mention that unlike a majority of their clan, she actually awakened her Sharingan.

After much arguing on the elders' part – and holding down Shisui because he hated it when someone badmouthed Izumi – they proceeded with the real reason the meeting was called: Sasuke's relationship.

He had to admit, he hadn't expected them to know about it so fast. Elder Daizo was no gossip and one of the few that he held at a high regard since he had simply nodded and congratulated him and Izumi on their relationship. But then again, news travels fast among the elderly so he shouldn't really be surprised.


"Fugaku, you have let your children explore to their hearts' content, long enough!"

Beside him, Itachi felt his mother frown.

"These are serious matters, Fugaku. As a father, I know you wish for your sons' happiness, but you have the clan to think about! What will happen once we are infected with outsiders? What will become of our ancient and treasured clan secrets?"

A murmur of agreement went through the crowd. Aside from the 7 clan elders, the heads of each branch family were also present and while some looked like they would much rather be anywhere else – a sentiment Itachi himself shared – most seemed to believe this was a meeting of urgent matters.

"The argument against Izumi will no longer be entertained," his father, stoic and stone-faced as ever, announced. The murmurs got louder, but a single look from the Uchiha patriarch silenced whatever commotion was starting.

"As for Haruno Sakura, her relationship with Sasuke is still new, let us not get ahead of ourselves in –"

"But she is an outsider! She's a civilian-born undeserving of –"

"A civilian born who possessed enough skill to be worthy of training under the Godaime herself," his mother cut in – both voice and expression eerily calm, laced with something that made even his father give her a worried glance.

"Who then proceeded to be the youngest person to achieve their byakugou seal – which, if I may remind you, only 3 shinobi in history have been able to do – and surpass her mentor in both medical and battle prowess.

"If I may add," Itachi spoke, "Sakura-chan saved the life of the Kazekage's brother and has formed stable friendships with the Kazekage and his two siblings. She also has close personal ties with most clan heirs – ties that neither I nor Sasuke have to the same extent. I highly doubt any other candidate you have for my brother possesses such promise."

"Haruno-san also has a maternal relationship with the Hokage," his father added, "and while the old Uchiha-Senju rivalry is long dead and the Godaime is more than willing to cooperate with us and hear our concerns, having her daughter-figure on our side would certainly be to our advantage."

"During Pein's invasion a couple years back, Sakura-chan lead the entire medical force all while running the hospital," Shisui provided. "At the age of 15."

"Yes but –"

"If my son is infatuated with Haruno-san then he is infatuated with her. Your persuasions did not work on Itachi and they will not work on Sasuke. I'd say this meeting is adjourned."


His father and mother had to go by the Police station to check on some things and told him and Shisui not to wait for them. His cousin had gone home, complaining about what a pain in the ass old people are and how they should just let up already.

So yes, Itachi was tired, and if he's being honest, missing his girlfriend. Sakura-chan probably went home already but given the fact that she does have her own room in the manor, it's hard to tell whether or not she was staying over tonight.

The bottom line is that he just wants to rest.

"Hey Sasuke is Sakura-chan still –"

He was not prepared for the girl's startled scream followed by the sound of something hitting the floor.

"Sasuke sleeps with wet socks on!" Sakura-chan's head popped up from behind the couch.

"Well she spends too much time in her office!" His brother's face is beet red as he pointed to the kunoichi

Itachi stares at the two of them for a couple more seconds, reads the room, and thanks every god he can think of that Shisui wasn't here to see this.

"You know what?" He raises his hands in surrender. "I don't even wanna know."


Sasuke tossed and turned in his bed for what felt like the tenth time that night. As much as he tried to clear his head, the feeling of Sakura's body on top of his own still lingered – the weight of her on top of him, her hot breath against his ear, her fingers dragging along his chest. He wondered how they feel on hi –

Stop it! He sat up on his bed, frustrated – in more ways than one – at the road his thoughts had taken. She's Sakura!

Tch. When has that ever stopped you before?

With a groan, he rubbed his hands against his face, collpasing back down onto his bed. Despite what everyone else might think, Uchiha Sasuke was just as hormonal as every other guy their age. He just doesn't show or openly talk about it because why would he?

He tried to stay away from anyone he knew in real life, he really did, but the thought of some random woman just didn't do it for him – no matter how hot he made her! – and he always ended up with pink tresses in his hands, green eyes as familiar as the forest that surrounds his home village, and her hot breath against his ear as her wanton moans begged him to take her rougher, faster, harder!

Seriously, she's right in the next room!

At first, he'd rationalized that it was simply because she was the only girl he ever really spent time with so it makes sense he'd be more comfortable… you know, doing it with her.

After every high though, a moral low always followed. This was Sakura! His short-tempered, hot-headed Sakura who could easily destroy mountains with her pinky finger but mends bones and saves lives, and she had one of the biggest and purest hearts he'd ever had the pleasure of being around! She didn't deserve to get defiled in his fantasies no matter how good it felt when he bent her over her office table, or when he swallowed her moans as she rode him in a hot spring they discovered on their way home from a mission, or when she took her in her mouth and –

Are you seriously doing this while she's in the next room?!

But it's Sakura!

Exactly, it's Sakura!

But did you hear her earlier? Imagine how she'd sound when –

"Sasuke-kun?" As if summoned by his internal moral debate, Sakura knocked on his bedroom door.

"Sasuke-kun, are you still awake?"

"Aah. Just a minute." Taking a quick glance down there to make sure he didn't have to explain anything a little too awkward, he hopped off his bed and opened the door.

Sakura stood there, in short yoga shorts she left there the last time he slept over, and in one of his old genin shirts. His mother had convinced her to stay for the night, arguing that news must have traveled through the village already and some of their friends – possibly even her father – might pay her a surprise visit for, in his mother's words, the full scoop, and she should think of tonight as the calm before the storm.

He tried not to think about how good she looks in his clothes. His shirt fit her just enough to outline her figure without being too explicit in some areas – he highly doubts she bothers wearing chest bindings when she's about to go to bed – and the fact that her hair wasn't as smoothed out as it always was was telling of her own struggles to acquaint herself with her nightly rest.

She looked up at him, brows furrowed, hand fidgeting with her finger – specifically the one where he placed the seal, he noted – and he stepped aside in silent invitation, closing the door once she sat on his bed.

Her gaze was unfocused, simply staring ahead, as she gnawed on her bottom lip. Sasuke sat beside her, keeping his silence and waiting for her to speak. When she just continued staring at the wall, he tentatively touched her arm to catch her attention.

"Sakura, what's wrong?"

Without saying a word, he held out her hand to him, the one she'd been fidgeting with. Despite his confusion, he took it in his own, running his thumb across her knuckles. He felt her turn it in his hand and realized what she was trying to show him.

Running down the side of her ring finger, where the seal was once stark red against her ivory skin, was now ink black.


Tsunade massaged her temples for the nth time that day. Beside her, she could feel the weight of Shizune's worried gaze.

Haruno Mebuki – a woman she was not too thrilled with – paid the Hokage Office a visit earlier today, and filed for a permanent change in their records.


"You're leaving Konoha?"

Her apprentice's mother nodded – curt and tight.

Tsunade handed the documents to Shizune and gave her instruction to send them to the designated office later that day after going over them.

"Does Sakura know about this?"

The woman's expression hardened; her fists tightened, bringing Tsunade's attention to the flower arrangement she held in her hand.

It took a surprising amount of will power not to give the couple in front of her the satisfaction of seeing her reaction.

"Don't you dare say her name!"

From her peripheral vision, she caught Shizune's frown.

"My daughter is dead! My precious baby girl is gone forever and now some heartless, disrespectful murderer has taken her place!"

Despite herself, Tsunade felt her own expression harden.

"My baby used to tell me everything! She used to come to me with her boy problems! Asked me to teach her how to cook and which dress looked better with which hairstyle! She used to listen to me! She used to respect me!"

She knew this woman was completely beyond reason. Her outburst was a testimony to how ignorant she was of her own daughter's achievements. Did she even know about the feats Sakura's achieved since then?

Boys and dresses – her patience wore thinner with every word out of this ignorant civilian's mouth.

"Your daughter lost respect for you the moment you stopped giving it to her."

"You killed her!"

"Mebuki!" her husband had the decency to be appalled by his wife's accusation. A little too late though, in Tsunade's opinion.

"You took my precious sweet baby innocent baby girl and brainwashed her into becoming one of your blind murdering robots that cater to your every whim! Teamed her up with traitors like the Uchiha and monsters like Naruto! Now she's –"

Haruno Kizashi's hand gripped his wife's shoulder. From the looks of it, rather tightly if it got Mebuki to stop in the middle of her outburst. She did note, however, that he failed to bow, and guessed he probably isn't as sorry as he says he is.

"She is mourning the loss of our daughter."

Neither she nor Shizune bothered contradicting them. If this is how they wanted to go about it instead of listening to the daughter they claim to love, then so be it.

"We will be returning to our hometown in the Land of Tea permanently," he continued. "I trust that out records will be updated soon."

The Godaime nodded, not trusting herself to speak.

Shinobi, she had to problem giving a verbal beat down to; elders, she could always give them a piece of her mind, but the Harunos were civilians of the worst kind – the ones that didn't and blatantly refused to understand the way of the ninja. And while Konoha is primarily a hidden village run by shinobi, she knew civilians still held power in their own right.

"Will you be needed escorts?" Shizune asked.

At least someone in the room was still practicing formalities.

But Mebuki sneered, and it took all of her self-control not to throw the bottle of sake she held underneath the table over the woman's head. It was one thing to discredit and undermine one of her apprentices, but to blatantly disrespect both of them right in front of her –

"Don't do us any favors, Hokage-sama. We will be fine on our own."

She wanted to tell them there were possible bandits along the way but doubted they would listen. Afterall, the venom the couple infused into her title was open for the room to read.

They left without further prompting. For the first time, Tsunade didn't consider the still-full bottle she threw at the door to be a waste.

A single ANBU guard appeared before her. His paper pale complexion rendering the animal mask he wore useless.

"Ugly can be a handful sometimes, but her parents are… how would Dickless phrase it, 'the scum between a pig's toes'?"


"Should we tell Sakura-chan?" Shizune asked, placing another bottle of sake in front of her.

"Yes," she took a swig, "although I highly doubt she doesn't know yet."

The silence that answered her prompted her to continue.

"The seal she put on herself – the restraining seal – should go without saying, is simply a restraining order without the paperwork," she explained. "It sends an electric shock to the offending party whenever they're within a 3-mile radius, and when it does, the bearer feels it growing hotter until the offender moves away from the minimum range."

Another swig.

"The bottom line," it's a wonder the bottle didn't shatter when she slams it back down on the table, "it protects and warns its bearer against threats."

There's a short pause as Tsunade stares at an old photo of her and her two apprentices just before Sakura went off to participate in the Chuunin exams with Team 10.

"However, in the rare times when the offender is no longer a threat, the seal changes color. It's possible that she h –"

A knocking at the door cut her off.

"Shishou?"

"Hm, right on time."


"I don't understand," Sasuke admits, but he holds her hand tighter when he feels it tremble. "What does this mean?"

Her eyes are distant, glassy with unshed tears. He's scared he might do something to set her off, but if he wants to help her, he has to get her to explain what's wrong.

"Sakura," his tone is gentle – patient – as he squeezes her hand again, thumb going back to caressing her knuckle. "I can't help you if you don't tell me what's wrong. What does this mean?"

He sees her eyes regain focus, and she looks down at their joint hands before returning her gaze to his face. He briefly wonders if he should stop what he's doing but decides against it. After all, if she were uncomfortable, she would have withdrawn her hand already.

She takes a deep breath before proceeding to explain the nature of her seal. All Sasuke can do is nod and keep quiet as he tries to encourage her to go on.

"However, sometimes – although it is rare – when the offending party is no longer considered a threat, the seal goes dormant and changes color… but…"

She pauses.

He waits.

"But the most common reason is death."

He sees it – that blasted look on her face his mind always throws at him whenever he's in a tight spot and isn't sure if he's going to make it back from a solo mission. It's the same look she gave him when Orochimaru first attacked them in the Forest of Death, it's the look he caught her giving Naruto when he was about to fight Gaara, the same look she has when she realizes a patient isn't going to make it through their surgery – the panic, the genuine fear in her eyes, and he acts on impulse.

He pulls her to him, wrapping an arm around her torso while the other cradles the back of her head against his chest. She stiffens in his hold – yet again – but relaxes as she wraps her own arms around him. He feels her grip the back of his shirt and goes as far as to stroke her hair.

For all the bullshit Mebuki put her through, Sasuke knows Sakura still has ties to her. He'd never say it out loud, but on the off chance that her parents did kick the bucket, he'd be more than willing to be the one to shovel dirt on their bodies. Hell, he'd even make sure to throw in the years' worth of emotional manipulation onto the hole for good measure. He sure as hell knows Yamanaka would be more than happy to give him a hand at it.

But this is Sakura, and he knows she thinks otherwise.

"We're not sure that's what it means," he assures her. "You said it was the most common, but that just means that there could be other reasons, right?"

She gives him the slightest nod, but he still feels it.

"We can go to the Hokage office right now if you want," he offers.

Sakura withdraws from their hug, wiping away a few unshed tears before nodding. He feels her eyes on him, and even through the faint gleam of the moonlight that managed to make its way through his window, he can see the faint blush on her cheeks.

"You," she clears her throat and looks away, "you might want to put a shirt on first."

He looks down, his lack of clothing registering. and he feels his own face heat up. In an attempt to cover it, he feigns a cough before focusing his attention on the wall.

"Aah."

After putting on the first thing he could get his hands on – a dark blue hoodie with the Uchiha crest sewn onto its back – they head out.

Both opted to use the ninja path, which meant taking the rooftops instead of the regular pathways to cut their journey short. It wasn't until he let Sakura enter the building first that he notices she was still in his old shirt, Uchiwa fan stark against the dark blue fabric and highlighted by the way strands of her petal pink hair grazed its top.

The intimacy of seeing his family insignia on her sparked something in him he couldn't quite pinpoint, and he found himself looking around on the off chance that any of their friends came in to report.

If anyone asks about his reddening face, he could just blame it on the run.

Tch. Like anyone's going to believe that.

He really needs to stop talking to himself. It's not healthy.

They were ushered into the Hokage's home office where there were four empty bottles of sake on the table, and a fifth one in her hand that was already half empty.

Sakura didn't seem even a quarter as concerned as she should be at the scene, leading him to believe that this was a common occurrence during the Godaime's off hours.

She didn't bother asking them why they were here at this hour, instead motioning for them to take a seat as she chugged down the remaining contents of her bottle.

If this is who Sakura's been around all those years, no wonder she can outdrink a sailor.

Before Sakura could get a word out, Tsunade-sama was already explaining the situation to them, starting with the nature of the seal.

We already know that, he wanted to say, but Sakura was holding on to her every word, so he kept his mouth shut and reminded himself that he was here for her.

"But no, as far as we know, your parents are alive and safe."

The rosette practically deflated with relief – her shoulders relaxed, her back slouched a little, and if his ears weren't betraying him, she even heaved a sigh of relief.

Without thinking, he wrapped an arm around her waist in silent support. It wasn't lost on him how she leaned into him instead of tensing up like all those previous times he did it.

"So how come the seal changed?" he asked, joining the conversation for the first time. Partly due to genuine curiosity and partly to have something to distract himself from the heat rising to his face. "I highly doubt they had a sudden change of heart."

Tsunade-sama looked at him, then to Sakura. He tried to pretend he didn't notice how her brow rose when she notices his hold on her.

"They migrated to the Land of Tea."

"They came in to have their records updated earlier today," the hokage's assistant – he could never really remember her name – added.

Silence.

Everyone waited for Sakura to react.

"Did they say anything about me?"

His eyes went to her. He didn't know why she still bothered to ask, knowing fully well it would just hurt her. But then again, Sakura wouldn't be Sakura is she didn't chase after things – sometimes even people, he remembered with a stab of guilt – that could easily shatter her.

For the first time that night, hesitance appeared on the older woman's unnaturally young face. Her eyes darted to her assistant before landing on the rosette in his arms.

If he's being honest, Sasuke wishes she'd spare her of whatever it was she was going to say.

For long as he's known the Godaime, she has been brutally honest, tolerating absolutely no bullshit, and always going straight to the point. A fitting mentor for Sakura, he always thought – especially with her short fuse and volatile temper – However, he knew of the relationship she had with Sakura. Past conversations with Itachi and Shisui have even gone as far as to describe it as motherly.

The fact that she was hesitant to tell her already spoke volumes.

And apparently, Sakura knew that too.

"Did they say anything about me?" she repeated.

With a sigh, the Hokage's expression hardened.

"They are not worthy of calling themselves your parents."

No arguments there.

"Did they say anything about me?"

This time Sasuke couldn't help but blatantly look at his supposed girlfriend; wishing she'd just pick up what her mentor was putting down.

Why do you want to know so badly? You know it's only going to hurt you.

"If they cannot see how you've grown into a –"

"Did they say anything about me?!"

All eyes were on her. Sasuke could feel her trembling in his hold, shaking with years of pent up hurt and frustration threatening to tear down the wall she's hid them behind.

He didn't know what to do. Naruto would. Itachi too, probably even Shisui.

But not him.

He couldn't do anything.

Sakura was – is – precious to him, and here he was, forced to stand there and watch as she tiptoed over the line of falling apart.

And he hated it.

Tsunade-sama stared at her apprentice before turning to him.

"Uchiha, get her home," she ordered. "I'll send you both a scroll with the details."

"Shishou, I –"

"Go home, Sakura. That's an order from your Hokage."

The two kunoichi engaged in a tense stare off. For a split second, Sasuke was worried she might overstep her boundaries and force the conversation, but Sakura backed down; leaning against him with a defeated sigh.

"Hai, Hokage-sama."

Both of them wished the two women goodnight, bowed, and left the room.

There was an unspoken agreement that she wasn't returning to the Uchiha compound that night as they made their way to her apartment complex.

The night air was cold against his skin. Beside him, he noted that nin-sandals, yoga shorts, and an old T-shirt probably wasn't the warmest attire for the weather.

He gently pulled her towards him before draping an arm over her shoulder in an attempt to warm her up. If he were wearing anything underneath it, he would have offered her his hoodie, but he supposed she was warm enough when she rested her head on his side as they walked. It was a testament to how tired she was that she hadn't bothered fighting it.

They took the long route to her apartment, purposely avoiding busy streets despite the late hour. Konoha had advanced enough that even at 11:43 PM, there were still stores filled with people open. He knew she was in no state to talk to anyone right now and pulled her closer every time someone seemed to recognize the local doctor and attempted to approach her.

He also didn't think it was a good idea for anyone to see her wearing an old shirt of his with the Uchiha crest on it when rumors about their relationship were just starting to go around. The implications were very clear, and once again, the intimacy of it – the thought of Sakura as an Uchiha, an Uchiha because of him. The implication that they were together in that way, not just in a sleeping-with-each-other way but in a making-love-to-one-another way – wasn't lost on him.

For the nth time that day, he felt his face heat up, and he genuinely wondered if this was bad for his health.

As they approached her apartment, the thought of leaving her alone for the night just didn't sit right with him. So he stayed by her side until they reached her door on the third floor.

She looked at him as she opened her door, an unspoken question hanging in the air.

He follows her inside.

Sakura went to her room to get him a spare bedsheet, some pillows, and a blanket while he made work on setting up her folding couch bed. They stayed there, even after everything was set, neither wanting to leave the other's side.

For Sakura, it was for the comfort of having someone there with her – a reminder that even if her own family had just completely cut her off and started a new life away from her, she wasn't alone.

For Sasuke, it was the need to assure her that he was there, that he wasn't leaving her anymore – that he wasn't going to let her go through that again. That he's there for her.

Maybe it was because of her exhaustion; maybe it has something to do with her vulnerability, but Sakura crawled onto his lap, straddling him between her legs, and wrapped her arms around his torso, resting her head on his chest.

If anyone ever asks, Sasuke could easily tell them he was just hugging her back. If they ever question the kiss he gives her forehead, he can blame it on his own exhaustion too.


That was a long one, but you know what? You guys deserve it for being patient with me HAHAAHAHA still pretty busy since I'm on my (hopefully) last year of Uni and realizing that I really don't wanna become another corporate slave has been taking a toll but here we are haahahah

Thank you to each and every single one of you who keep supporting this fic, I can't reply to each one of you (mainly because I'm really bad at replying huehuehue) but just know that I appreciate every kind word you leave on my fics!

I'm also way more interactive of Twitter, so you can follow me there if you like :)) /anbukunoichx

I also dabble in digital art, and you can see some of my drawings on my ko-fi, anbukunoichx 💖