Guess who's going to be back in the leaf village? Find out more in this chapter ;)
Please read & review!
By the following day, everyone was setting up the tables, chairs, and putting up the banner sign in front of the center stage, whereas all the food, drinks, and desserts were displayed on the long rectangular table on the right side. They were all dressed formally with suits and dresses since it was part of the theme. Other guests were invited, including Aunt Rose, who recently met up with the seventh Hokage and the leaf squad. She greeted the sand siblings with a smile as they began to have a small talk.
"Hello. I heard that Sakura is getting ready," she said, grinning.
"Yeah. This is such an important occasion for her and hopefully, she enjoys it," Temari smirked.
"She is still recovering, right?" Aunt Rose asked.
"Slowly, but getting there. Though, lady Tsunade said that it will take a lot of time for her to remember," Temari explained shortly with a slight frown.
"I see. I was worried for a second that she might have experienced the worst. Thank goodness, she's alright," aunt Rose sighed in relief.
"Ah. Don't worry no thing. Sakura is a strong person," Kankuro said coolly.
"Hmm. I assume you are her boyfriend?" Aunt Rose turned her head surprisingly to face the red-haired Kazekage, who gave out a chuckle.
"Yes. I am, indeed," he said, smiling happily.
"That is amazing. I'm happy for you and my niece. You two have a chemistry and I've been seeing that for such a long time now. You both finally came to realize your own feelings towards one another," aunt Rose said.
"I know right. I've been telling that for so many years," Kankuro snorted.
"Not that long. They were too young to fall in love. Maybe just a little crush," Temari pointed out as she rolled her eyes and shook her head.
"No matter. Anyway, shall we head onto the table reservation?" Aunt Rose gestured as they nodded in agreement and followed behind her before they sat down in their chairs.
On the other hand, Ino and the girls were placing a bouquet of flowers in the vases, discussing amongst themselves indistinctly.
"I'm kind of worried," she muttered softly.
"Why?" Tenten asked blankly.
"Because she might panic," Ino said.
"No. I don't think Sakura will. I'm sure she is going to be fine. She will appreciate the efforts that we all did for her," Hinata smiled reassuringly.
"If you say so," Ino mumbled faintly and continued on. "I guess I shouldn't overthink this."
"Good," Tenten nodded until she saw the man passing by them and called out with a wave. "Mr. Haruno!"
The man got startled to see who it was and he smiled warmly at them. "Girls. What is up?"
"We just want to ask you about Sakura's condition. How is she doing?" Tenten blinked her eyes in curiosity.
"She still has no memories yet, but rest assured that she will eventually get back to normal," Mr. Haruno informed positively.
"Not even a single one of them?" Hinata wondered.
"That is the whole point. We are all waiting for what my daughter remembers. However, I'm reminding you to always keep a watchful of her at all times. She may get lost in track and she probably needs someone to guide her or any of you here. I know you won't disappoint her because you are her friends," Mr. Haruno explained wholeheartedly and checked to see his relatives waving at him. "Anyway, I'll leave you girls alone. I got to go and don't forget to enjoy the rest of the party, yah?!"
He made a funny wide grin at them with a thumbs up and walked away from them. The girls nodded and sighed tiredly as they continued to put the right amount of flowers in the other empty vases.
Back inside Haruno's house, Mrs. Haruno was laying out the pink gown and started to brush her daughter's pink hair with gentle strokes. The young kunoichi's eyes were staring at herself in the mirror composedly where her hands are folded down together and breathing slightly.
"Mom, do I really have to do this?" She asked in concern.
"Yes, sweetie. This was your dream and you always told me about it when you were a little girl. To dress up as a princess. Now you are living it for real," Mebuki reminded and smiled merrily as she placed her hands on her shoulder.
"Right…" the pink-haired kunoichi sighed nervously and nodded in determination.
Later on in the top of the Hokage tower, the others have already settled down at their tables and greeted each other kindly after they were served with light appetizers.
"How do you manage to stay fit? Do you go on a certain diet?" A woman in her 40s asked curiously.
"No. I don't diet because I'll get even more hungry. I'm the type of person who usually eats a lot and do some exercises," the young girl answered.
"Ah. I see. No wonder your body is very well-shaped," the woman complimented.
"Thank you," she smiled shyly and lowered her head down.
Naruto and Hinata were having a conversation and they decided to make plans to spend time together as a couple.
"I was thinking we should go to the water parks, beach, camping, or swimming," the seventh Hokage suggested thoughtfully.
"That would be wonderful. But can we invite our friends?" Hinata raised her eyebrows blankly.
"Of course not!" Naruto scoffed in annoyance.
"Huh?!" Hinata's eyes widened in shock.
The seventh Hokage's lips curled into a smirk and laughed. "Hahah! I'm kidding. Yes, they are welcome to. Your reaction is so adorable."
"Hehe and you are handsome," she said, smiling as she poked him on the nose.
Naruto gently grabbed her hand and kissed it.
Kankuro and Temari looked over to where Gaara was sitting and noticed how quiet he was. They both noticed him gazing over to the entrance anxiously.
"Hey, bro… You alright?" The purple ninja asked.
"I'm not sure," the red-haired Kazekage answered calmly.
Temari sighed a little and reminded him. "Everything is going to be fine…"
"I hope so," Gaara said faintly.
Both of his siblings glanced at each other and knew that he needed to relax a bit. Then, the bells started to ring, much to everyone's alarm. They all rose up from the chairs and waited for the young kunoichi to arrive.
"Please welcome my lovely and strongest student, Sakura Haruno," Tsunade announced proudly.
From there in the entrance, she stepped in while she was holding onto the skirts of her baby pink gown and her eyes got startled by their loud voices.
"SURPRISE!" They replied gleefully in unison and clapped for her.
Sakura's eyes blinked three times for a moment and smiled nervously. She made her way to the center stage and sat down in the big chair.
All the guys were mesmerized by her beauty, including Gaara, who couldn't help but fall in love with every single thing that she is. His eyes were glistening back and forth intensely at the sight of her and wanted to walk up to her with an embrace. Though, he couldn't since he knows that she is still recovering.
"Damn… She's on fire," Kankuro whistled a little with a grin.
"She always is," Temari smirked.
On the other side of the table, Kiba and the others had their mouth open as they continued to stare at Sakura.
"Man. I would go for her, you know," he grumbled.
"She's taken," Choji snorted.
"I know!" Kiba groaned and continued to mutter on. "Gaara is one hell of a lucky man."
Shino and Neji chuckled at this until one of them spoke teasingly. "Don't worry, you are better off alone. You got to love yourself."
Kiba's eyes narrowed in annoyance and growled funnily. "What's that supposed to mean?"
Both of them tried to stifle their laughter and pressed their lips together to hold it back silently.
"Awww. Little Sakura is all grown up. I'm crying," Tenten sniffed as she wiped her tears dramatically.
"I'll say. I've known her for years. She learned a lot from me. Who would've thought that we went from rivals to best friends," Ino clicked her tongue proudly with a smirk and watched the pink-haired kunoichi sitting peacefully.
"Hmm," Tenten hummed in response, then they began to listen to Tsunade's introduction speech intently.
"This young lady has been a kind and compassionate person to me, besides her being a student. She was one of the people who would never give up on others whom she truly cared about dearly. She has learned what true strength is and saved many lives after the war. She was a hero that young girls are starting to look up to. She wasn't meant to be only as a princess, but as a ninja as well. Forwardly, I give her my blessing that she will live with happiness, peace, and love because she has become a woman that she deserves to be. Happy birthday, Sakura Haruno," she concluded with a smile when the rest of the people were clapping as soon as she bowed down and walked away from the stage, going towards her seat.
Naruto looked down on his cue card to see who's next and grinned. "Looks like it's my turn."
"You can do it," Hinata said cheerfully, patting him on the shoulder before he went up to the stage.
The seventh Hokage cleared his throat and stared at everyone with a quick wave. "Uh, hi. You all know me. I would like to say a few words to my gorgeous friend here. All of my life, I always think that I'm in love with her."
He paused for a moment and they started to laugh in amusement and understanding, including Hinata.
"But I realized that she was more like a sister to me. She looks after me whenever I get hurt or I'm in danger. That's how much she is willing to protect me and everyone else here. Sakura sees things in people, despite the good and bad in them. She learned how to forgive easily and will put her life on the line, just for the sake of them. There are times where I've been an annoying goof and times where I've been a serious guy. We don't bicker that much, but only when it comes to missions. Her strength doesn't come only from the heart, but through her fists," Naruto grinned brightly and continued on with sincerity. "I'm glad she has found the kind of love that she needs. She learned to appreciate what she has and does not want to focus on what she doesn't have because she knows that life is short. Anyway, cheers to the best years of your adulthood, my best friend!"
Everyone clapped and wooed as they watched him make a peace sign to the pink-haired kunoichi.
All of a sudden, her eyes started to wander the dark figure with the black hair arriving in the entrance.
"Sakura…?" He murmured in astonishment.
The pink-haired kunoichi stood up from her chair and gasped in surprise. "Sasuke…?"
The others were confused and shocked after their heads were turned to see the Uchiha standing in the empty space.
"Huh…?" Naruto's eyes got startled.
Kiba and the others' raised their eyebrows in puzzlement, including the girls.
"What is he doing here?" He questioned.
Sasuke began to approach her, who stepped down the stage and embraced her, much to their bewilderment.
The pink-haired kunoichi blushed a little as she slowly returned the hug back. Kankuro and Temari's mouths agape at what they witnessed.
"I missed you…" Sasuke murmured softly.
"I missed you too…" Sakura said, blinking her eyelids.
On the contrary, Gaara's stomach began to drop while his heart stopped for a moment where he and the rest of his friends became confused at how she suddenly remembered him out of nowhere.
That is just the beginning of it.
TO BE CONTINUED...