A/N

Now 14 chapters into this story (way more than I anticipated) I find myself overwhelmed with gratitude. I never expected anyone to read this fic, much less send me personal messages and post reviews. Each and every positive word I receive is more helpful and impactful than you know. In my personal life, I am an elementary teacher and only began watching Naruto to connect better with my students. As I tell them, it had no business being that good!

This chapter goes out to everyone who reviewed or read this story and enjoyed it. I hope that I can keep delivering!

Sasuke's POV

Sasuke was trailing after Sakura towards the training grounds a few afternoons later. He found himself acting as her shadow more and more since he had returned, but he never minded. In fact, as he watched Sakura's pink hair swing back and forth in front of him, he decided that he preferred being able to keep a watchful eye on her and the street.

Sasuke glanced down at Sakura and had to catch himself mentally. Sasuke kept his expression neutral in public, yet he found his chest warming at the sight of Sakura bouncing and overflowing with excitement, her fingers crackling with adrenaline. No one saw his eyes soften.

The previous Hokage was going to be in town for a few days and had requested a day of training with her favorite student. Sakura had been so thrilled, she had forgotten her morning coffee in order to get ready faster. If he was honest with himself, Sasuke was a bit excited to see what kind of training Sakura and Tsunade would do. After hearing stories from Sakura, Sasuke had tried to imagine what they would do. He hadn't come up with much, however it only increased his anticipation.

"Has it really been that long since you've trained with Tsunade?" Sasuke wondered aloud.

Sakura grinned over her shoulder at him. "It sure feels like it's been forever! She's enjoying her retirement but also conducting a ton of research. We get to compare notes when she comes back."

"Are you a part of the research?"

"Yep!"

Sasuke frowned slightly. "What's the research?"

Sakura didn't turn around to reply this time. "It's about chakra channels. I'm sure you and Naruto will be off getting food by the time we get to it."

Sasuke's frown deepened. If he didn't know better, he'd say her tone and body language conveyed evasion. He decided to let it go. "Hm."

They arrived before everyone else. To pass time, Sasuke tallied his weapons and watched Sakura stretch, nodding and muttering words of affirmation while her words bubbled over in excitement. Sasuke found himself pausing his movements frequently to stop, stare, and listen.

Naruto arrived a few minutes later with Tsunade at his side, talking animatedly with his hands. The Godaime looked like she wanted to be anywhere but where she was, her expression sour and her shoulders tight. That was, until she saw her favorite student.

"Tsunade-shishou!" Sakura shrieked, running to her former teacher. Sasuke watched as Tsunade's expression morphed to one of peaceful happiness. She accepted the flying pink kunoichi with open arms, chuckling slightly as they crashed together.

Sasuke watched them chat, Tsunade brushing Sakura's hair back and gazing down at her with a motherly look in her eyes. Watching them, he could tell that they were closer than the average master and student. There was familiarity, intimacy, and a sense of respect that flowed in both directions. It made Sasuke's chest hurt.

He felt Naruto creep up beside him, but he paid him no mind. He was too busy feeling an uneasy sense of gratitude toward the Godaime. He understood fully what she did for Salura by being there for her when he and Naruto left.

Naruto swung an arm around his shoulders. Sasuke swiftly knocked it off, but Naruto kept his ever present grin on his face. "They tear up the training grounds every time Granny Tsunade comes home. It hasn't been as often as Sakura would like, so they go all out."

"Hm."

"So? Are you excited to see Sakura train?"

"I've seen her train before, Naruto."

"Yeah, but not like this."

Sasuke shook his head. "Naruto, start training or they'll keep thinking you're as lazy as you really are."

Naruto's eyes bugged. "Hey now, you're not training either!"

Sasuke smirked to himself, then flung his fist straight into Naruto's stomach. Naruto flew across the training field before landing in a crouch. Sasuke watched his friend snarl, eyes glowing with irritation. Sasuke cracked his neck and took a stance. Training had begun.

…

Sasuke's breathing was heavy when he found himself at the edge of the training grounds, guzzling water. Naruto leaned against a tree next to him, sighing at his dislocated shoulder. Sasuke's knee felt a bit banged up as well, the dobe having miscalculated his strength once again. Sasuke flexed his legs while searching for Sakura's pink hair across the clearing.

Sakura and Tsunade had stopped their sparring as well, their side of the training grounds looking like the site of a small apocalypse, and were now standing several feet away from each other. Tsunade was speaking and Sakura was nodding, taking deep, steadying breaths. Each had their hands locked in a hand sign, however their eyes were closed in concentration.

Sasuke's brows furrowed. What they were doing didn't look like training. "What are they doing?"

Naruto looked up with squinted eyes. When he spotted them, his face blanched before screwing together in a half-hearted attempt to appear casual. "Hey, Sasuke, you think you're up for some food?"

Sasuke gave him a look. "Sakura's not done."

Naruto's laugh was weak, his hand behind his neck. "Yeah, but I'm really hungry! Plus, Granny Tsunade and Sakura-chan will be done soon! They can totally meet us there."

Now Sasuke was feeling very, very unsettled about Sakura's training. First she avoided it, now Naruto?

"What are you not telling me?" He looked back at where Sakura and Tsunade were standing. It didn't look dangerous, but by the serious look on Tsunade's face and Naruto and Sakura's evasive answers, Sasuke knew that this part of Sakura's training was something neither of them thought he should see.

When Naruto didn't answer, Sasuke's eyes narrowed. "What - exactly - are those two doing?"

Naruto began to look a bit desperate. "Sasuke, you really don't want to watch, believe me. It took three or four times before I truly got used to-"

"What is she going to do to Sakura?"

As soon as he spoke, Sakura's high pitched scream echoed across the clearing.

Naruto's hands were wrapped around his upper body before Sasuke could move an inch. "Stop! They're training! I promise Sakura will be fine!"

Sasuke strained against him, his eyes locked on the pink haired kunoichi. She stood stick straight, her hands still holding her hand sign, but she shook violently. When she shrieked again, her eyebrows screwed shut in pain, Naruto couldn't hold Sasuke back from taking a step towards her.

"Do not make me repeat myself," Sasuke snapped. He could feel the veins in his neck bulging, his blood pumping with adrenaline with the desire to fight. His eyes swallowed Sakura's form, looking for any sign of injury, any sign of the source of her distress-

She screamed again, but this time, she fell to her knees. Tsunade's expression did not change.

"Naruto," Sasuke snarled. He felt feral. He felt like an animal. He was about to go ballistic, Sakura's possible anger at interrupting her training be damned. His last ounce of will was about to burn up in amatarasu. She should have told him what was going to happen because not knowing was going to eat him alive.

"They're training chakra channels and gates," Naruto said quickly, tightening his hold. Sasuke could sense his friend's chakra rising in order to hold him in place. It made his blood boil. "Tsunade believes that with the hundred healings seal, Sakura could actively open and use all of her chakra. All eight gates."

"No one can do that," Sasuke spat, his fury rising. "She could die, much less permanently damage her chakra paths." His eyes snapped to face his friend. "You saw what happened to Guy."

"Granny Tsunade would never let that happen," Naruto argued through his teeth, tugging on Sasuke enough to get him to take a step back. "They have done this before, Sasuke. It's not dangerous, it's-"

"Does she scream like that every time?" Sasuke demanded, his eyes still on Sakura.

"She's going to be fine, Sasuke!"

"That's not what I asked."

"Yes." Naruto shouldered Sasuke in frustration. "But Sakura-chan isn't weak, Sasuke. She knows what her limits are."

"I know she's not weak but I also know it's bullshit to say that she knows her limits. She doesn't."

"Hey, watch your mouth, Sasuke!"

"She's always going to push herself too hard because of us." Sasuke felt even angrier at his friend. He should have known that about Sakura. He had spent more time with her, afterall. Wasn't he her best friend?

When Sakura screamed again, Sasuke swore at Naruto. "Get off of me!"

"Not until I know that you won't interrupt them! Sakura had me limping for a week when I did it the first time!"

Sasuke finally broke free from Naruto's hold. He took several steps forward before Naruto caught him again. "Sasuke, don't!"

Sasuke's sharingan flared to life.

"Listen to the jinchuriki, Uchiha," came Tsunade's cool voice from where she stood. Her eyes never left her student. "Sakura is fine."

Sakura screamed again.

Sasuke had had enough. He tossed Naruto off and stalked towards where Sakura was kneeled on the ground, trying to maintain his composure. When he got close enough to see the sweat on the back of her neck, Sasuke's heart stuttered. "Sakura, you-"

"I'm fine, Sasuke-kun," Sakura whispered. Her words were strong, but not like they should have been. "I've almost…" She groaned. "I've almost got it."

Sasuke stopped in his tracks, his eyes raking over her form. He scanned her from head to toe, watching her chakra levels. They were low and rising too slowly for his liking, yet he couldn't help but feel slightly amazed at what he saw. Sakura was quite literally rebuilding the cells and structures that made up her chakra gates. It looked more complex than anything Sasuke had ever encountered. She had put cracks in them only…only to rebuild them.

Sakura was trembling from head to toe, and her face was concentrated. Her eyebrows furrowed every few seconds and a few mumbled noises were let loose, but she maintained her composure. Sasuke's eyes moved across her figure nearly as fast as they moved in battle, tracking every stage of progress.

He could see her pain in her tense back, the way her hands swayed in front of her, and how she let a whistle of a breath out every time she finished repairing a crack. He had no idea what to do with himself besides stand there and observe, making sure she didn't push herself too far with his sharingan. It made him feel shifty. He knew she was training, he knew she was not weak, he knew that she was capable, strong, and every other adjective that could describe a kunoichi. Sasuke knew these things, yet none of them stopped his heart from pounding, his hands from sweating, and his mind from replaying her screams.

He hated the feelings coursing through him, but he stood still and watched as Sakura painfully realigned her chakra gates, never once taking his concentration from the ebb and flow of her chakra. If he hadn't been so stressed, Sasuke would have been incredibly impressed. The chakra control Sakura displayed was leagues above anything he'd ever seen. Her mitotic regeneration was incredible to witness.

Sasuke knew she was done before she did. He flew across the training ground and caught her before she face planted in the dirt. Naruto was at his heels, his eyes on Sasuke instead of Sakura. Sasuke ignored him, his focus on Sakura.

"M'fine," she murmured against his arm, her head having dropped to rest against his bicep.

Sasuke made a noise under his breath. If he wasn't so overwhelmed, he'd be furious. "You could have warned me."

"Naruto was s'posed to make you leave," Sakura said quietly. She let Sasuke sit her up straight, his hand a firm anchor at her lower back. "You weren't s'posed to watch."

Sasuke tsked. He tucked her hair away from her face and hoped he didn't look as frazzled as he felt.

Tsunade walked calmly to the three of them. Sasuke looked up to find her eyes were trained on him and were heavy with implication. He glared back, not caring for a second that this woman was close to Sakura. She pushed her student too far.

Tsunade's eyes narrowed as she crossed her arms. "The last I checked, Uchiha, you went on a journey of atonement." Her eyes were definitely insinuating something. "Did you also return with a heart as well as a new head?"

"Tsunade-shishou," Sakura whispered. Her tone was hesitant but held a small warning.

Sasuke felt Naruto stiffen beside him, but Sasuke wasn't worried. He wasn't riled by Tsunade's words. They were true. "I came back without the intent to murder anyone, if that's what you're asking."

Tsunade watched the two with observant eyes. After a moment, she turned to her student. Her tone was icy. "Did you forget to mention something in your letters, Sakura?"

Sakura smiled weakly at her teacher, unfazed. "I was waiting to tell you in person."

Tsunade's expression didn't change. She merely grew more intense. "That was incredibly foolish. I expect an update when you decide to let a previous criminal get so close to you like it's nothing."

Sasuke turned to respond, the fire brewing in his cheek about to explode, but Sakura's hand on the inside of his arm stopped him. She rose to stand, Sasuke helping her up despite her protests. She leaned on him for support before staring up at her teacher, a fiery will in her eyes like Sasuke had never seen. He was momentarily taken aback by the fierceness in which Sakura stood, bracing her back to Sasuke as if she were protecting him.

"Do not think that my respect and love for you goes so far as to stand by while you insult Sasuke-kun." Her eyes flashed. "He is important to me, more so than anything or anyone else. I trust him more than I trust myself. I know Sasuke-kun. And, I won't have anyone questioning that or calling it foolish. Especially not someone that I also trust and respect so much."

Sasuke was floored. He had never heard Sakura speak so sharply, so eloquently in his defense, especially to someone who was like a goddess to her. He felt swelling pride in his chest as he stared down at Sakura. Warmth enveloped him and wrapped around his throat. Gratitude was the emotion that nearly choked him.

Tsunade was equally as surprised. She took a step back, her mouth falling open ever so slightly. Sasuke looked down at Sakura and found her staring resolutely back at her teacher, leaving no room for argument or response other than agreement.

Sasuke fell utterly and irrevocably more in love with Sakura at that moment. It also made his irritation with her fade. Only a little.

Tsnuade eventually recovered herself, coughing into her hand to hide a small smile that only Sasuke saw. She closed her eyes and sighed, composing herself into the serene face of the former Hokage. "Very well, Sakura. I won't question you or Sasuke again." Her eyes sparkled when they opened and, when she leaned down, Sasuke saw mischief. "After all, who am I to question my favorite student when she is so happy?"

Sasuke smirked. Tsunade had to have been updated by Kakashi and probably had known about the two of them weeks ago.

Sasuke couldn't see, but he could feel Sakura growing warm at her teacher's words. He hid his smile in her hair, internally shaking his head at how flustered Sakura still got about the two of them. Sasuke had spent enough time in his head to grow used to the idea of him and Sakura as endgame months ago. The idea of it, the concept, it was concrete in his mind. And inevitability, so long as she allowed him to stay. Now that she was aware of how he felt, he had no problem with others knowing this fact about them as well. The problem was in their desire for so many details.

Sasuke made eye contact with Tsunade. She sent a message with her eyes, as if to say, Caught you. Sasuke knew she had seen his smile. "I'll leave you to it then," she said with a smile, "As long as you don't need me to heal you."

"I'm almost fully replenished, Tsunade-shishou," Sakura said, sighing. "I'll make sure to rest up at home and be good as new!"

Tsunade gave her the look of a teacher who knew her student was full of shit. Sakura merely grinned in response.

What neither of them realized was that Sasuke was already making plans in his head to force Sakura to stay home the following day. Sasuke had already reassessed Sakura's chakra. It was actively working to heal her and return her to full chakra levels. He was satisfied with her going home to rest and decided not to suggest a hospital visit, like the overbearing Uchiha he was. If Sakura was going to be healthy, someone had to make her, and it might as well be him.

"I'll make sure she gets some rest," Sasuke said quietly, his eyes on her dirt smudged cheek, and shaking legs. "She's about to fall over."

Sakura had the nerve to look shocked. The funny thing was, she was too tired to truly put up a good fight. The only thing she said was, "Sasuke-kun!"

"He's right," Tsunade said, laughing lightly. The former Hokage gazed down at Sakura with a gentle look, her hand raising to push the hair from Sakura's face. "Go home and rest," she said. "You earned it. You are a formidable kunoichi and stronger than your teacher. I couldn't be prouder."

Sasuke couldn't agree more with the Godaime, especially after witnessing Sakura basically rebuild every chakra pathway in her body in under five minutes. Sakura felt like a cooked noodle in Sasuke's arms by the time Tsunade was finished speaking, obviously overwhelmed by the kind words of her sensei. He watched as she thanked Tsunade, her smile small, like she was desperately trying not to grin.

Tsunade gave her one last smile, Naruto a wide grin, and Sasuke one last glare before she departed, poofing into smoke.

As soon as she was gone, Sasuke's attention immediately snapped to the kunoichi in his arms. "Have you lost your mind, Sakura?"

Her eyes widened in surprise, then narrowed in irritation.

Naruto chuckled nervously. "Uh, Sasuke? I wouldn't recommend it!"

Sasuke ignored the dobe. He didn't balk from Sakura's defiant eyes or her temper. "You were evasive earlier. Why?"

Sakura continued to glare. She was definitely irritated. "Because, I thought if you understood the process, you'd try to stop me from doing it. I tried the next best thing, which was Naruto distracting you. And obviously-" She paused to glare at their whiskered friend. "-that didn't work."

Naruto threw his hands up in defeat. "Hey, I tried, alright! It's not my fault the bastard is super protective of you."

Sakura blushed. Neither Sasuke's mood nor his expression changed. Of course he was protective of her. He pinned her with a look. "You wouldn't want to sit there and watch me do that."

"That's exactly why I tried to get you not to watch!"

"That's not the point."

"That's exactly the point!"

Fed up, Sasuke's arm dropped to Sakura's waist and he tugged. She made a small noise of surprise but went still with shock when her feet were lifted off of the ground in order to be eye level with the Uchiha.

Sasuke resisted the urge to shake her, frustrated that she didn't understand him. For once. He settled with re-educating her on his opinion of her. "You are everything that Tsunade said. You are strong, capable, and you terrify any enemy that comes across your path." He tilted his head down to speak softer, trying to ease the bite in his voice. "You should have told me about your training so I would have been prepared to watch you work. I wouldn't have stopped you."

Sakura's eyes had gotten wide at his words and Sasuke watched as her thoughts raced behind them. Her fingers absentmindedly fingered his shirt collar while she took in his words, sat with them, and then decided what to do with them.

Eventually, she said softly, eyes on the ground, "I am…sorry, Sasuke-kun." She blinked up at him, her face falling. "I should have told you. You are right."

Sasuke tried to keep his face neutral as his chest concaved. Sakura apologizing to him made him feel sick. He wasn't happy with Sakura earlier, but she didn't need to dwell on that enough to apologize. "Don't apologize. You had to have trained hard to be where you are today. I expected nothing less. But I…" Sasuke paused, his eyes shuttering as he recalled hearing her first scream of pain.

Sakura noticed. She prodded him with a tap of her finger to continue.

Sasuke looked to tell Naruto to go away, but thankfully, he was already gone, having disappeared sometime while he was caught up in Sakura. He turned back to face her, his eyebrows furrowed. "I didn't expect to hear you scream like that," he said quietly.

Sakura's eyes softened with understanding and regret. "I'm so sorry, Sasuke-kun. I…" Sakura looked at the ground again. "I really didn't handle this well."

Sasuke didn't handle seeing tears begin to trickle down her cheeks well. His chest felt like a chidori was shoved through it with each tear that fell. His hand rose to her cheek and wiped what he could, his neutral expression falling to convey every emotion he felt. Worry. Frustration at himself, at her. Hating himself for making her cry. Again.

Sakura's head rested in his hand. Her eyes were squeezed shut. Sasuke ran his thumb across her cheek again, his eyes flickering back and forth between hers, wishing for her to open them, to let him in. He let his forehead fall to hers, needing to comfort her, but not sure how. He decided to inquire. "Sakura, why are you so upset? I'm not angry with you."

"Aren't you?" Her voice was incredibly small.

Sasuke sighed patiently. "No, I am not."

Sakura nodded, but didn't open her eyes.

Sasuke tilted her head back. Her eyes slid open ever so slightly and Sasuke held her gaze before speaking. He felt the need to explain himself to her, once again. "You will irritate me many more times in this life, Sakura. You don't have to worry about ever making me so mad that I leave you. We're connected no matter what either of us do." Sasuke smiled down at her, feeling a rush of affection for the woman in his arms. "Wherever I go, you will always be home."

Sakura blushed heavily at the implication, but Sasuke pushed on, his eyes softening with his next words. "You also don't need to apologize. The words 'I'm sorry' are two words that you never have to say to me."

Sakura nodded, her lower lip wobbling. She looked reassured but overwhelmed. And tired. She looked very, very tired. Too tired to still be standing in the cool air and having a serious conversation.

Sasuke bent low to sweep her legs out from underneath her, scooping her up and against his chest in a heartbeat. His half-arm was situated under her knees and his hand wrapped around her bicep, cradling her to his chest.

She was so tired that she didn't even protest. As soon as she was off of her feet, her eyelids had started drooping. "Where're we going?"

"Home."

Sakura nodded slowly, then turned her face into Sasuke's neck before promptly falling asleep.

Sasuke immediately took to the rooftops, using more chakra than necessary to stabilize his jumps. He didn't want to wake the sleeping kunoichi, so he also summoned his susanoo as an extension of his half-arm. Sasuke couldn't afford to, but he wanted to close his eyes at the sensation of holding her with two hands for the first time in too long.

Evening was soon approaching and Sasuke was determined to make sure Sakura got the rest she needed. When he arrived at their apartment, he jumped down to their front porch as lightly as he could. Hoisting Sakura up a bit higher on his shoulder, he tried to pull his set of keys out of his pocket.

Sadly, Sakura woke up from his movements. She stiffened and clenched her eyes shut, tapping his back to signal him to let her down. He did so, albeit reluctantly, ending the susanoo. She barely looked awake, blinking slowly up at him. His hand ghosted behind her elbow, ready to catch her if she stumbled.

Sakura yawned and swayed into him while he unlocked the door. "Mm, are we home?"

"Yes," Sasuke murmured, gently pushing her inside. She trudged across the threshold, stretching high and yawning as she kicked her shoes off, toeing them haphazardly into their spot by the door. Sasuke was her shadow as she made her way to her bedroom, hands rubbing her eyes the entire time. If Sasuke hadn't gone through the emotional ringer that afternoon, he might have been a bit more amused at her sleepy behavior.

It would be cuter if he had ever seen her this tired before.

Sasuke saw her turn to the left. He grabbed her arm before she could push the bathroom door open. "You need to go to bed, Sakura."

She had enough energy to turn and give him a look of disgust. "I'm covered in dirt and grime, Sasuke-kun. I am not sleeping in my bed this dirty."

Sasuke frowned, but after looking at her for a moment, he could admit to himself that she was pretty dirty and in need of a shower. He nodded, letting his hand fall as he followed behind her, not a thought in his head except for I'll catch her if she falls.

….

Sakura's POV

….

Sakura sighed in relief once she was alone, already unzipping her red top. Her movements were slow and sluggish, her chakra levels barely enough to keep her upright. Feeling dizzy, Sakura nearly stumbled into the counter, her head barely missing the upper cabinet. And, she would have hit it had a large hand not wound around her waist, snatching her upright.

"Sakura, you need to sleep."

Sakura shrieked, clutching her top to her front as she whirled around in his grasp. She had her bindings on underneath the shirt and they covered everything, but they were totally not something she was prepared to wear in front of Sasuke. She glanced behind him to the still open door, cursing her stupidity. She hasn't even heard the door close before she had started stripping.

Sakura felt the blood rush to her face as she stammered out, "W-what are y-you doing?"

Sasuke's brows were furrowed, as if the answer was obvious. His hand was still wrapped tightly around her hip and Sakura could feel every one of his fingers pressed against her exposed skin. Sakura shivered, unable to help it, and forced her eyes to stay on Sasuke's shoulder in order to ground herself.

The deep temper of his voice wasn't helping. "Sakura, you're dead on your feet and would have smacked your head like an idiot if I hadn't caught you."

Sakura felt like a fish, her mouth opening and closing. She recovered herself, shaking her head emphatically. "I-Sasuke-kun, I've got enough energy to shower on my own!" Oh Kami, why had she said that? She had no idea if that was even his intention. She was beyond flustered, her cheeks furiously warm, but she looked him in the eye. "You don't need to…be in here."

Sasuke's expression didn't change, but she could see him thinking. His head tilted to the side, his hair shifting across his face. His eyes flickered back and forth between her own before he asked, "Are you uncomfortable with me being in here?"

Sakura continued gaping at him. "Are you seriously asking me if I'm comfortable being naked in front of you?" The words came out in a squeak.

Sasuke's eyes narrowed and he took a step back, dropping his hand. Sakura felt cold without it. "It's not like that. You're injured. I'm not…looking at you, not like that." Sasuke's cheeks were tinged with pink by the time he finished.

Sakura was floored. She didn't know whether to be insulted by his ability to keep his head straight in front of his naked girlfriend or thankful that he cared for her so much to keep it together in order to help her. She felt both, shifting on her feet in embarrassment, anxiety rippling through her. This topic wasn't something Sakura had prepared to talk about with Sasuke anytime soon. She didn't know how to respond.

"It's the same as you when you have to heal someone," Sasuke said after a moment. He looked up at her, his expression smoother than before. "You're focused on helping. It's the same."

Sakura nodded and Sasuke's posture relaxed slightly. This, she understood. She behaved the same when she had to check him and Naruto for injuries. But, it didn't mean that she was totally comfortable. Eyeing Sasuke warily, she asked, "Are you planning on sitting in here the entire time?" Please say no, please say no…

Sasuke's sharingan flicked in and out before he responded. "Your chakra is still low, but I think you can manage." He paused, glancing down at the shirt that she held against her chest before looking back up, his eyes on the wall behind her. "I'll wait outside."

Sakura watched him retreat from the bathroom like his life depended on it. She held in a snicker as her shaky hands moved to further undress herself, the door thankfully closed this time. She replayed the look on his face when he looked down at her barely clothed upper half. If Sakura hadn't been so tired, she would be shrieking with excitement. Sasuke would have heard it, anyway. He might have been able to put aside how they felt about each other in dire circumstances, but the reaction he had gotten from realizing she was nearly topless in front of him was all man.

Sakura tried to shower as quickly as possible, but with each passing moment and every press of the hot water against her tired and overused muscles, she slipped further and further towards sleep. By the time she had stepped out, a big, blue towel wrapped around her, her eyelids were fighting to stay up.

Sakura slowly made her way to get clothes from her room but cursed when her shoulder smacked into the doorway. Her eyes had closed for a second too long.

Sasuke was behind her in a second, a small wind fluttering the ends of her towel. "Are you alright?"

"I'm fine," Sakura murmured, making her way towards her dresser. At that point, Sakura was so tired, it didn't even register to her that she was in just a towel in front of Sasuke.

He followed close behind, always her shadow. When she fumbled on the drawers, Sasuke sighed and opened them for her, grabbing a pair of shorts and a long sleeve t-shirt. He looked Sakura up and down for a moment before sighing, his eyes closing. "Can I help you get dressed?"

Sakura grunted in affirmation, her kids heavy. Sasuke took the long sleeve and placed it over her head, tugging the shoulders down and around her before pulling her wet hair out from underneath the collar. Sakura held onto her towel with one hand while Sasuke carefully guided one arm into a sleeve. She switched and he did the other, his concentration apparent in his eyes.

When it came time for her shorts, Sakura sleepy slapped Sasuke's hand away, snatching the shorts from him. She was coherent enough for that. She shimmied them up her thighs and under the towel before dropping it, nearly falling over into Sasuke in the process. He caught her with a hand around her elbow, his firm grip keeping her upright.

"Bed," Sasuke growled, his patience obviously wearing thin.

Sakura sighed, letting him tug her towards the bed. She crawled under her covers and was nearly out before he spoke, right next to her ear. "How long should I let you sleep before making you eat?"

"Like….twelve hours?" Sakura squeezed one eye open. "Yeah, no more than twelve hours." The first time she spoke was Sakura. The second time was all Dr. Haruno.

"Do you need to eat?"

"No, I can sleep now."

Sasuke nodded, turning to go. Sakura, curled on her side facing him, tugged at his arm, her eyebrows furrowed. "Why're you leaving?"

Sasuke's eyes widened before closing. Like a statue he stood, his arm ensnared by hers, unable and unwilling to move, Sakura wasn't sure. All she knew, in her addled state, was that it was nighttime and Sasuke shouldn't sleep on the couch.

It took a while, but Sasuke eventually moved. He nodded once, gently untangling her hands before walking to the door, turning the lights off, and walking around the bed to his side, his eyes on the floor the entire time. Sakura rolled over to face him as he slid beneath the covers, facing her. In the morning, she would remember his movements as jerky and awkward. For the moment, Sakura only felt safer and warmer now that the Uchiha was where she needed him to be.

As sleep took her, Sakura managed to whisper into the darkness, "G'night, Sasuke-kun. I…love you."

She was out before he could respond.

…..

Sakura woke up to the smell of something delicious. She swam through the thick exhaustion from chakra depletion towards consciousness and opened her eyes. She glanced at the clock and noticed that she woke up a bit earlier than she thought she would have considering how low her chakra had gotten before Tsunade and her had begun. For Sakura, who rarely got to train outside of her medical skills, yesterday had been a fuse lit that finally got some release.

Rubbing her eyes, Sakura began to sit up. That was, until a hand swiftly pushed her back down.

Sasuke was there in an instant, saying, "Sakura, you still have one more hour to sleep." His eyes flickered over her form, checking her chakra levels with his sharingan.

Sakura, now feeling much more rested than she had last night, was a bit flustered by Sasuke's protective and caring side. It was weird in a very, very good way, but also in a way that Sakura wasn't sure how she felt about yet, especially now that she was thinking more coherently. "I'm well rested, Sasuke-kun, I'm just a bit hungry."

Before she could sit up, Sasuke was there again to push her back down, his hand now gripping her shoulder. "Sakura. One more hour."

Sakura narrowed her eyes. The cute caregiver daydream she was nursing went up in flames to reveal only a bossy Uchiha. "I'm a doctor, Sasuke-kun. I know how much sleep I need. Twelve was the most I could sleep without the possibility of a coma."

Sakura immediately regretted the words as soon as they came out. Sasuke looked murderous. His expression was far too calm and his sharingan swirled. He was quiet when he asked, "There was a possibility of you going into a coma?"

Sakura winced, rushing out her next words, her palms up in surrender. "No! Well not really! It's never happened before, it's just one of those outliers that doctors have to look for. It's a precaution, not something that is a true concern, I swear."

Sasuke merely narrowed his eyes in response. "You realize I am this close to calling Tsunade and asking for more specific instructions? Or taking you to the hospital?"

Sakura's jaw dropped. She knew she shouldn't have mentioned how ridiculous her master's rest routine's were. Bed rest, bed rest, and more bed rest. It would drive Sakura insane. "You wouldn't," she whispered.

"Try me. Now, give me a specific set of directions you would give a patient if they were in your position or you can choose between the two options I gave you."

Sakura was equally amazed and furious at Sasuke's assertion when it came to taking care of her. Still trying to figure out which emotion she felt more, Sakura choked out, "Sleeping for twelve hours or more after chakra depletion is a sign of possible chakra shock, which leads to coma or death. Sleeping for ten to ten and a half hours at a time for a few days is preferred and recommended, as well as eating twenty percent above the average daily calorie intake."

"How long do you need to be awake?"

"Thirty minutes at the least for the first twenty four hours. Enough time to eat, digest, and use the bathroom if necessary. I can resume normal routines after that."

Sasuke finally pulled his hand back. "Good. You've slept for eleven. You can get up and eat."

Sakura laughed. She couldn't help it. The scene was so wrong, so different from the usual Sasuke, it was comical. "When did you turn into a bossy caregiver?"

Sasuke gave her an unamused look, ignoring her comment. "I have food for you. It's chicken noodle soup."

Sakura nodded, giving him a thankful smile, though by the way his eyes narrowed, he still saw how entertained she was by all of it.

Sasuke walked towards the door, but paused before leaving. He left his hand on the doorknob and said quietly, "It's what my mother made for me when I was sick. It's the only thing I thought to make."

Sakura's heart felt two sizes too big. She clutched her sheets right to her chest, as if to staunch the flow of emotion that poured out of her heart. "I…thank you, Sasuke-kun. I know I'll love it."

He nodded once more before leaving her to it.

Sakura groaned quietly as she stood up. She was sore and her body wasn't finished healing itself, but a warm meal was necessary, if the loud grumblings of her stomach were any indication. The smell of Sasuke's cooking wafted towards her as she made her way down the hallway and her mouth watered. She was hungry.

After finishing her third bowl, Sakura could confidently say that Mikoto Uchiha's chicken noodle soup tasted even better than it smelled. Every bite she ate warmed her heart and her body, her thoughts of a young Sasuke, eating this soup when he was sick. Still, she could have gone without the sulking Uchiha staring her down until she ate every last piece of chicken, vegetable, and spoonful of broth.

Once she was done, Sasuke ushered her back to her bedroom, not even deigning her a response when she said she could still dry the dishes. He only pressed harder against her lower back, steering her even quicker out of the kitchen and down the hallway.

Even though it was the early morning and she had just slept for hours, Sakura felt exhaustion sinking in, the feeling of chakra depletion creeping deeper into her bones with every step. She crawled into bed and pulled her blankets high, tucking them under her chin.

Sasuke stood over her like a shadow misplaced, refusing to budge. His expression was a bit drawn, but his eyes were affectionate while he looked down at her. "See you in ten hours?" Sasuke whispered, his hand brushing across her forehead.

Sakura smiled, her heart warming her from the inside out. "See you in ten hours, Sasuke-kun."

Sakura fell asleep to the feeling of Sasuke's fingers trailing over her skin.

…..

Sasuke's POV

….

Sasuke closed the door to Sakura's room and let out the breath he had been holding. He turned, his hand falling from the knob to his side, and made his way back to the kitchen to clean up.

While he cleaned, Sasuke sorted through his thoughts. He hadn't had time to think since they had gotten home, having been too stressed about Sakura to do much other than react to her needs. After she had pulled him into her bed, Sasuke had obsessively tracked her chakra until he had fallen asleep himself.

He was feeling a bit more satisfied after seeing Sakura eat. She hadn't said much, but her movements were smooth and she ate every bite of the soup. He hadn't ever made it before, yet it felt like just yesterday he was standing at the stove with his mother, learning to make the Uchiha family soup. The recipe and memories flooded him while he cooked yet and, a change he had noticed as of late, he felt no pain. Only warmth. This development, he attributed to Sakura.

Sasuke finished cleaning the dishes and decided to take a shower before entertaining Kakashi. He was supposed to have another meeting with the Hokage that morning, but with Sakura still asleep and not a hundred percent, Sasuke had requested they meet at the apartment. Kakashi's response was delivered by hawk; a crude drawing of Sasuke and Sakura sleeping next to each other with a new time listed at the top.

Sasuke had rolled his eyes, then burned it between his fingertips.

As soon as he stepped into the bathroom, he was pelted by thoughts of Sakura stripping in front of him hours earlier, unaware that he had followed her in. Shutting them out, Sasuke grimaced as he started the shower, disappointed in himself.

Looking back, Sakura had definitely felt uncomfortable with him there. She knew he was in their apartment, yet she still screeched in fright when he had grabbed her. He couldn't fault himself for following her, not when he had been just in time to keep her from getting a bruised hip and forehead, but he understood more now than he had then that he crossed a line.

He was truthful when he told Sakura he was in there to help, that he wasn't looking at her with want or desire, not when she was so tired or she might break her neck from slipping on a wet tile. He had walked into the bathroom right after her, his thoughts only on how to safely get Sakura in and out of the shower before she passed out from exhaustion. He wasn't concerned with her clothes coming off outside of getting her clean and into bed.

It was an unconscious miscalculation on his part. While he could detach himself, Sakura was the one he would be helping, and he hadn't considered her reaction in the slightest. He knew all too well how hard it was to be vulnerable enough to accept help. Sakura wouldn't be any different, especially if said help involved Sasuke having to see her naked. He definitely wouldn't have been as calm as she had been if their situations were reversed.

Sasuke stepped into the shower, his teeth grinding from the effort to keep his sharingan at bay. He eventually lost the fight, and the memory of Sakura's shirt held loosely against her stomach played over and over again. Sasuke closed his eyes, but it was no use. He fell victim to her wide, green eyes and bare shoulders, her bindings wrapped tightly around her chest. She had dirt smudges on her chin and her cheek and her hair was a mess, but she looked so beautiful, Sasuke's chest began to hurt.

Sasuke quickly finished showering and dried off, his sharingan finally turning off. He hadn't had as much trouble controlling it before coming back to Konoha. The thought made him wonder if having heightened emotions outside of pain and anger could affect his visual prowess. Since returning, his sharingan felt sharper and more stable, especially after Sakura's healing sessions, yet he lost control now more than ever. He decided to check the Uchiha's collection of books on the sharingan the next time he went to their secret meeting place.

Sasuke got dressed and sat in the living room, his eyes closed as he breathed heavily. He knew it was time to think about his physical attraction to Sakura in more depth. He had let himself go far too long with the notion of 'I'm attracted to her' as the only response in his head when his body and hands moved and wanted more than his mind was ready for. He needed to be mature about their relationship, despite his inexperience. She deserved more from him and he needed to figure it out. It was just about sex, it was all physical intimacy. What you saw and what you touched.

It took a while, but Sasuke could finally admit to himself that he didn't just want Sakura as a life partner; he wanted her. He wanted to kiss her. He wanted to hold her hand at night. He wanted her to feel comfortable enough to lay her head on his chest while they slept. He wanted more.

The past few days waking up next to her had truly tested his resolve and stoked the flames hotter. Sasuke normally dealt with the physiological response of his body in the morning by ignoring it, yet it was becoming increasingly more difficult each day he woke up next to pink hair and soft skin. He opened his eyes with desire in his veins, something he hadn't experienced before. He'd held back every morning from burying his face into her neck, from pulling her as tight as he could to his chest, wanting to know what it felt like.

Sasuke felt embarrassed, even with no one around to hear his thoughts or witness the plethora of emotions rolling across his face. When alone, he was more unguarded. But with this, with topics of vulnerability and intimacy, Sasuke felt wildly out of place. He didn't know what she wanted from him. She asked him if he wanted her to touch him, but had he ever asked her?

He didn't know what to do about the feelings of desire he found himself having about the pink haired kunoichi. They were random, almost haphazard in their popping up, but they always felt like a kick to his stomach. He felt it when she laughed or grinned freely, nothing staining her joy. He felt it when she wore the sweatshirt he decided he didn't hate one bit, not with how it always fell down one of her shoulders, exposing the pale skin of her neck and collar bones. Sasuke felt it the hardest and for the first time when Sakura wore the tiniest shorts imaginable to bed, only having witnessed them in the dark quiet of the night when Sakura had gotten up for a glass of water. He had stared at her legs until he realized what he was doing.

Sasuke felt like grabbing her and doing…something, every time she gave him a snarky response to some stupid thing he said. He had wanted to crowd her and run his hand over the skin of her stomach when her shirt had ridden as she reached for a cup on a high shelf. He would get overwhelmed with the desire to kiss her every time she did something selfless or kind for him, proving her trust in him like it was the easiest thing to do. And when he kissed her…

He wanted to kiss her everywhere. He wanted to kiss her forehead, her cheeks, her neck. He wanted to kiss every single inch of her until she realized that he wanted her like he had never wanted anything before, not even the air he breathed. He wanted to show her that she was precious, that she was everything to him. He wanted to have a family with her, to enjoy her, her time, her body, her mind. Sasuke felt selfish, but he wanted her to enjoy him, too. He wanted Sakura to want him just as much as he wanted her.

He thought she did but he also was insecure in this newness. Sakura was always open to him when he had questions, but he couldn't help but wonder if she wanted to have this conversation with him. Shame enveloped Sasuke when thoughts of Sakura begrudgingly explaining basic human emotions to her inept boyfriend clouded his thoughts. He asked too much of her and refused to put the weight of his inability to court her like a normal man on her shoulders. He would figure it out on his own.

Funnily enough, Sakura would disagree vehemently with this decision not two days later.