Not long after Kido's capture, medic-nin from Suna come to Konoha to seek Sakura's help with the clinic opening up in Sunagakure. Sakura was plunged head first back into work, as if the whole fake Sasuke thing hadn't even happened. She was consumed with meetings whenever she wasn't doing shifts at the hospital and the clinic.
After a particularly exhausting day of meeting and other hospital duties, Sakura decided to go to Kakashi to request another trip to Suna. It would be much easier to manage things over there if she could actually see the developments that were happening. She knocked on the Hokage's office door.
"Come on in," came Kakashi's lazy voice.
"Hey, Kakashi-sensei," Sakura greeted. "Have you got a minute?"
Kakashi spun around in his chair, a volume of the Icha Icha series in his hands. "For my favorite student? Always," he said, not even looking up. Sakura put her hands on her hips.
"Kakashi-sensei," she said in a low, threatening tone. Kakashi sighed and lowered the book. "That's more like it," Sakura nodded in satisfaction. "I came here to put in a request. I'd like to go to Suna again. It's quite difficult–actually, scratch that. It's near impossible to help develop a clinic without actually being present. Like, I can even sense the Suna nin getting frustrated with the whole back and forth."
Kakashi hummed. "Well, I suppose you can manage to find people to fill in for you at the hospital and the clinic in your absence. Alright, you may go."
"Really? That easy?" Sakura asked. "Are you just trying to get rid of me so you can read your book?"
"Of course not," Kakashi said, fake hurt lacing his voice. "Would Ino be joining you on this trip?"
"Nope," Sakura said. Ino had been dating Sai these past couple of weeks and Sakura didn't know the last time she'd seen her friend so carefree and happy. "It would just be me. I've been thinking of asking her to take over the clinic while I'm away."
"And what about the hospital?"
"There's a lot of senior staff that I trust to handle things. Most of them have been there longer than me. Some of them even longer than I've been alive," Sakura added.
"When are you leaving?" Kakashi asked.
"As soon as possible," Sakura answered. "Hopefully by the end of this week."
"Alright. Take care. And talk to Naruto before you leave," Kakashi raised his book again and turned his chair back around.
"Talk to Naruto?" Sakura mumbled to herself as she left his office.
–––
Sakura knocked on Naruto's door. She had her travel bag on her back, she would be heading straight to the gates from here.
Hinata opened the door. "Hey, Sakura," she smiled. "Come in."
"Oh, hey," Sakura greeted. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to impose," she said as she stepped in.
"It's alright, we were just having lunch," Hinata said. "Are you going somewhere?" She asked as she eyed the bag Sakura had placed on the ground.
"Actually, yes. I came to say goodbye before I leave," Sakura slipped off her shoes.
"Hey, Sakura-chan!" Naruto showed up in the doorway. "What's up?"
"Naruto," Sakura smiled. "I came to say goodbye. I'm leaving for Suna to help with the clinic. I'm not sure when I'll be back."
"Oh…" Naruto's cheerful expression dropped. He exchanged a look with Hinata. "Well, um, I guess we'll just tell you the news now?" He glanced between Sakura and Hinata, looking unsure. Sakura saw Hinata nod from her peripheral.
"What news?" Sakura wrinkled her brows.
Naruto scratched the back of his neck. "We're getting married."
"What?" Sakura almost yelled. She shifted her gaze between a grinning Naruto and a blushing Hinata. "That is amazing, guys!" She embraced them both in a tight hug. "Congratulations!"
"Thank you," Hinata said softly as she pulled away.
Sakura hugged Naruto once again. "I'm proud of you," she whispered in his ear. He just squeezed her tighter. Sakura sniffled as she pulled back. "I'm so happy for you guys."
"Thanks, Sakura-chan," Naruto couldn't seem to stop smiling.
"When is the wedding?" Sakura asked.
"We were thinking late May or early June," Hinata said.
"Oh, so soon? Well, I better wrap up my business in Suna quickly so I can make it back in time, right?" Sakura joked. "Actually, I better get going now. But congratulations again. And I'll see you guys when I get back."
"Bye, Sakura-chan!" Naruto waved.
"Take care, Sakura."
–––
With no traveling companion, Sakura's thoughts occupied the whole three days of her journey to Suna. She was so, so happy for Naruto. He had come such a long way, especially the last couple of years. He had matured so much, grown so much. Marriage was a huge milestone. A bittersweet smile crossed Sakura's face.
She thought about Ino and Sai's courtship, how the unlikely pair was getting along splendidly. They were quite the sight too, with their matching crop tops and what-not. Sakura chuckled at the thought of them. She had caught Sai reading books about romantic relationships and the "minds of women" on several occasions. It was rather endearing how he was trying so hard in his own way. Sakura didn't doubt that his feelings for Ino were serious, even if he didn't quite understand them just yet.
Sakura thought back to her previous trip, when Ino had told her about Shikamaru and Chouji. She was quite certain Shikamaru was currently in Suna on some diplomatic business. Maybe she'd spot him together with Temari. She wondered how he acted around her when he wasn't in Konoha.
All her friends seemed to be finding love. Maybe it was because spring was finally here. She was very happy for them, but she was also jealous. It had been two years since Sasuke said goodbye at the gates. See you soon, his last note had said.
Sakura wondered when "soon" would be. She didn't want Sasuke to cut his journey short because of her, of course, but she was getting impatient. He had given her no indication that he wanted her to join him, although she knew she would without a second's hesitation.
She sighed as she nailed down the last corner of her tent and gazed up at the moon. "Sasuke-kun…" she whispered. I wonder if you're coming to Naruto's wedding…
–––
Sakura spent a month in Suna. She spent most of her time in meetings with Suna medics, but when those were over, she helped out in their hospital. Observing their techniques and methods, and offering up help when she deemed it necessary. Kankuro took her to the botany of the village, where many rare plants grew. He also introduced her to the poison specialist she had wanted to meet during her previous visit. She spent a great deal at the green house with him, brewing up all sorts of concoctions.
She couldn't wait to go home and tell Tsunade all about her research. She also couldn't wait to implement some of her newly learned skills and methods in Konoha General.
Early on in her trip, she had an awkward encounter with Temari at the inn she was staying at. The very same inn Shikamaru happened to stay at. Sakura was heading to her room when Temari came out of Shikamaru's room, flushed red. Upon seeing Sakura, the tint of her cheeks deepened several shades.
Temari invited her out for lunch the next day. "So… I guess the cat's out of the bag," Temari blushed again.
"Actually," Sakura said, not sure if she should even admit this. "I kind of already knew? Ino said that she was sure there was something more going on between you two than just… diplomatic relations?" She smiled awkwardly. The two women considered each other for a moment, then burst out laughing.
Now it was the middle of May and it was time Sakura returned home. This time, she wouldn't travel alone though. Both Temari and Kankuro would be coming with her, as they were invited to the Uzumaki-Hyuuga wedding. The Kazekage would be coming a week later, as he had some important matters to attend to first. Which was understandable, he was the head of the village, after all.
Sakura was glad for the company on the way back. The Sand Siblings' bickering kept her mind off her lonely thoughts and growing frustration toward Sasuke's absence.
–––
Konoha was abuzz. With love, with laughter, with sweet summer air slowly arriving. Sakura breathed as she stepped through the gates. Shikamaru was waiting for them at the gates. Sakura smiled to herself.
"Hey," he said, bored. From his expression, perhaps no one could tell that he'd just greeted his girlfriend and his friends.
"Hey, Shikamaru," Sakura smiled at him. "Are you excited for the wedding?" She asked, then decided to tease him a little. Her irises sparkled mischievously and she knew Shikamaru's analytical eyes must have caught the shift in her demeanor. "Are you bringing anyone special to the reception?" Sakura smiled innocently.
Shikamaru's ears turned relatively red and his eyes shifted to Temari for a split second, but Sakura caught it all the same. "Uh," he scratched the back of his neck awkwardly.
Kankuro snickered behind Sakura, enjoying the show.
"They know," Temari finally spoke up.
"What?" Shikamaru asked.
"We're ninja, silly," Sakura said. "Plus, your teammate is the biggest gossip of all the villages."
"Ino…" Shikamaru groaned. "How troublesome."
"Well, I don't know about you guys, maybe you're used to it, but I'd love to wash the sand out of my hair," Sakura turned to the two Suna-nin. "I'll go and report to Kakashi-sensei, but I'll see you guys around. Bye, Shikamaru!" She waved and noted that his ears still weren't back to their normal color.
–––
Hyuuga Hizashi spared no expense for the wedding. It was his heiress and the future Hokage marrying, of course. Sakura started weeping as soon as she saw Naruto standing at the altar in his black ensemble. She laughed through her tears as she noted that his hakama was lined with orange stripes instead of the traditional neutral colors.
Hinata looked beautiful, her hair was pinned up into a bun at the back of her head, with small ornaments decorating both sides of the bun. Her own clothes were white, but her kimono had a deep orange, almost red, embroidery on it. Sakura smiled at the bride as she shed silent tears of happiness. As she looked back at the groom, she saw that he was wiping under his eyes with one hand as well. A permanent smile on his face as his eyes followed every movement of his soon-to-be wife.
The ceremony itself was intimate, with only their closest friends and Hinata's family present. The reception afterward, though. It had the most important people of all the Five Great Nations there. Sakura was sure that even Hinata didn't know at least half of the people present.
Dinner had at least five courses, but Sakura couldn't be sure, especially because she didn't know if dessert counted as one. And if the wedding cake counted as another.
Sakura saw Shikamaru and Temari talking in one corner of the reception, holding hands while doing so. She saw Ino forcing Sai to dance with her, and while Sai managed to somehow keep up his pace with her, they sure looked entertaining on the dance floor. She saw Kiba chatting up a girl she didn't recognize and she saw Chouji spoon-feeding Karui with more dessert. She looked at the newlywed couple and smiled sadly. They were talking in hushed tones, smiles never leaving their faces as they leaned in close to each other, so no one else could see.
Sakura sighed and stepped outside for a second to gather herself. She looked up at the sky. Sasuke-kun… I wish you could be here, she thought. As if on cue, a hawk appeared in her line of vision. Sakura's eyebrows shot up as she held out her arm for the hawk to land on.
There was a note tied to its leg. Sakura carefully took it off and caressed the hawk's head once, twice, before it took off into the orange-painted sky. Sakura opened the small note.
Congratulations.
Sasuke
Sakura smiled. Just in time. She stepped back inside, holding the note to her chest. She saw as people were lined up the congratulate the happy couple joined the line. She looked on as the couple ahead of her gave their congratulations, many patting Naruto on the back and kissing the back of Hinata's hand, while others hugged them. Some just bowed.
When it was Sakura's turn, she stepped in front of them and a bright smile appeared on her face. She handed the note to Naruto and watched as he read it. He snapped his head up at her. His smile matched his. Sakura hugged the groom first. He was her best friend after all. "Congratulations! I love you guys," she said lowly. Only for their ears.
"Thank you," Naruto said as he hugged her tightly. "I love you too." He let her go.
Sakura embraced Hinata in the same manner as she had Naruto and whispered her congratulations into her ear as well.
–––
"Hey, Sakura-chan!" Naruto rapped his fingers against the window of Sakura's office. "Come with us quickly!" Sakura jumped to her feet in a second and followed Naruto and Sai out her window and to the Hokage Tower.
"What's this about guys?" Sakura asked as they dropped to the ground in front of the Hokage Tower entrance.
"There have been Kiri and Kumo-nin going missing," Sai said. "Kakashi has asked Sasuke to look into it."
"Missing nin, huh?" Sakura mumbled to herself as they entered Kakashi's office.
"Kakashi-sama," Sai bowed. "Sasuke has received your message."
Before Kakashi had a chance to respond, Sakura spoke up. "Kakashi-sensei, if I may. I've been looking into Konoha-nin going missing as well. Ino notified me of an old patron of her mother's flower shop going missing. I looked into it and noticed that ninja all over Konoha have been disappearing. Although not at such a noticeable rate as the ones in Kiri or Kumo," Sakura said. "But considering the disappearances in the other villages, it is quite suspicious."
"Hm," Kakashi pondered. "Suspicious anyway."
Someone suddenly burst into the office. "Hokage-sama! The Konoha Barrier Team just informed us that the village has been invaded!" He panted as an explosion could be heard in the distance.
Sakura exchanged looks with the three men in the room and sprang to the window, followed by Sai and Naruto. They raced on rooftops as Sai drew his ink birds and brought them to life. They jumped onto the birds and flew to the scene. Sakura saw InoShikaCho running toward the scene as well.
Sakura jumped off the bird. "What's going on?" She asked as she observed the Barrier team. They seemed to be retreating.
"Hey," Ino gasped. "That's Tadaichi! Right there!" She pointed at one of the invading men.
Sakura took a step closer and, upon closer inspection, realized they were the missing-nin she'd mentioned earlier. "These are the missing Konoha-nin," she informed the others. "They seem to be under some sort of genjutsu."
"Yeah," someone from the Barrier team confirmed. "We're trying to figure out how to capture them without much harm."
The next moment they heard cursing as a ninja fell back. They snapped their eyes to Tadaichi, who seemed to have attained a small cut on his upper arm.
"Oh, no," Sakura muttered as she saw several parts of Tadaichi slowly swelling up.
"Kage Bunshin no Jutsu!" She heard Naruto from behind her. "Let's evacuate the perimeter!" Naruto ordered his clones and quickly sprang into action.
Tadaichi's body blew up within minutes, injuring more of the missing-nin.
"Shit," Shikamaru mutters. "Quick, Chouji!
"On it! Chou Moudo!" Chouji shouted as giant wings appeared to redirect the multiple explosions coming from the invaders' bodies.
"Everyone's safe," Naruto told everyone, no doubt as he received the memories of his shadow clones.
"That's good at least," Sakura looked at the casualties sadly. The wall had also been severely ruined, but no residents nor living quarters had been destroyed or damaged.
"There are more coming in," Aoba said as he dropped to the ground amongst them. "They are all wearing either Kumo or Kiri uniforms."
"Ino, can you contact Hinata for me?" Shikamaru asked.
"Yeah," Ino nodded. Shikamaru put his hand on Ino's head. Hinata arrived not five minutes later.
"Hey, guys," she panted. "What happened here?"
"Missing ninja were controlled by some sort of genjutsu and there are more coming. They explode upon being inflected the smallest injury," Shikamaru explained curtly. "Hinata, can you see anyone who could possibly be controlling them?"
Hinata activated her byakugan, veins protruding around her eyes. She observed the village's surrounding carefully. "I can't see anyone, I'm sorry," she said. "But… the ones approaching…" she strained her eyes. "There seems to be a foreign chakra signature in each of their bodies. Maybe that's how they are controlled."
"Yeah, that could explain how they are being controlled from far away," Shikamaru mumbled as he laced his fingers and closed his eyes. Everyone looked at him in silence. They all knew by now that this meant he was working out a strategy. "Alright, here's the plan: Naruto, you and your shadow clones will distract the missing-nin and try to separate them from each other as much as possible. I will restrain them and Hinata will seal their chakra points."
The others waited by the ruins of the village wall while Shikamaru, Naruto and Hinata disbanded the invaders and captured them.
"It's not working," Sakura sighed frustratedly. None of the regular methods of dispelling genjutsu was working. "My guess is, we'll have to extract the foreign chakra from their bodies, which will take quite some time, especially considering how many of them there are."
"I'll read one of their minds in the meantime," Aoba says as he weaved the signs to his jutsu. "Maybe we'll get closer to knowing our perpetrator that way." However, as soon as he entered the mind of one of the Kiri-nin, Aoba fell into a genjutsu himself.
"I'll go get him," Ino said. Sai stepped behind her without a word and caught her as she collapsed from performing the Shintenshin no Jutsu.
The group looked on in anticipation. "Come on, Pig," Sakura muttered.
"What's taking so long?" Chouji worried.
Ino suddenly gasped as she returned to her body and collapsed back into Sai's arms. Aoba's chakra signature calmed. She had succeeded.
"Let's take them to the hospital," Sakura instructed. "Some of us should stay here with the Kiri and Kumo-nin, I'll send medics to retrieve them and transport them to the hospital as well," she instructed as she lifted Aoba's body on Sai's ink bird with ease.
–––
Sakura spent the next few days researching safe chakra extraction techniques as well as consulting with Tsunade about how she should proceed. The ninja in question could explode at the slightest of injuries, and Sakura's theory was that that meant internal injuries as well.
Eventually, they agree that Sakura should use her own chakra to guide the foreign chakra through their network and into the tips of their fingers, and draw them out that way. The easiest place to concentrate one's chakra is their hands, after all, so extracting chakra without causing any harm should be the easiest there too.
"Alright, you can do this," Sakura whispered to herself as she stepped toward her first patient.
It took over two hours, but Sakura managed to safely extract every last bit of chakra from the body, without any sort of harm to the ninja. She sighed in relief and wiped her forehead. Onto the next one, she thought as she walked up to the next patient's bed.
It was past two in the morning when Sakura finally collapsed on her office loveseat. She did not have the energy to actually go home and sleep in her bed. Within seconds, she fell into a deep sleep.
It took Sakura a whole week to heal all of Kiri's and Kumo's ninja and when she finally succeeded, she went home and slept for almost sixteen hours. She was awakened by someone knocking on her front door. Sakura groaned as she threw her legs over the edge of her bed.
"I'm coming!" She yelled, annoyed.
"Hey, Sakura-chan!" Naruto greeted her with a smile. "I brought you some dinner," he held up a bento.
"And it's not ramen?" Sakura looked at the carefully wrapped bento in wonder.
"Nope, Hinata-chan made it," Naruto explained as he pushed Sakura back by her shoulder. "Some leftovers from dinner. It's going to blow your mind, it's so good. I promise," he said while heading into her kitchen as if he owned the place.
Sakura felt her stomach grumble. "Thanks, Naruto," she smiled at him, sitting down at her small dining table.
"It's least we can do," Naruto waved his hand. "You were awesome, saving all those ninja. And so quickly too! I bet Baa-chan is equal parts proud and jealous," he grinned at her.
Sakura chuckled as she dug her chopsticks into the box. "Hmm," she hummed. "Hinata is an amazing cook," Sakura said. She hasn't had something so delicious to eat since… well since Sasuke had cooked for her. "I heard Sasuke-kun not only caught the bad guys but also managed to put them on the right path," Sakura said, smiling softly.
"Yeah," Naruto agreed. "I've been thinking… Even though the teme's not here… He's still always protecting the village, maybe in ways we couldn't even protect it, you know?"
"He's like Konoha's own one-man police department," Sakura chuckles. "Actually, he once told me he wanted to be on the Konoha Police Force when he was little. His father was the Chief of Police, did you know?"
"Really? The teme? A police officer? Or even police chief?" Naruto stroked his chin. "Well, I guess it's not all that hard to imagine. He really has been out their serving and protecting these past couple of years, hasn't he?"
Naruto chatted away with Sakura while she ate her dinner. Naruto, at one point, scolded Sakura for working too much. "Don't think I don't know you slept in your office twice this week," he pointed an accusing finger at her. Sakura retorted that it was none of his business and he didn't have the right to say anything anyway, when he'd been known to sleep in open fields when he was too exhausted from training and pushing himself too hard.
"At least I slept on an actual piece of furniture," Sakura crossed her arms stubbornly. "Hey, remember when you wanted my spare bedroom to be your room?" She laughed.
"Oh, yeah," Naruto laughs. "My offer still stands, by the way. Plus, who knows? Maybe Hinata will get sick of all the ramen cups and rogue socks around the house and kick me out. Where would I stay then?"
"Sure as hell not here! Uzumaki Naruto," Sakura fixed him with a glare. He shrunk visibly in his seat. "You better not let your poor wife pick up your trash after you!"
"N-no! Of course not, Sakura-chan," Naruto answered immediately.
"Good," Sakura smiled sweetly at him.
They talked for a bit more, but when Sakura tried to stifle her second yawn, Naruto stood up.
"I better get going," he said, heading toward her entryway. "I need to swing by Kakashi-sensei. You go get some more sleep, Sakura-chan."
"Goodnight, Naruto," she hugged him tightly. "Thanks for dinner. And thank Hinata for me as well, please."
"You got it," Naruto grinned at her and slipped out the door.
–––
Two days later, she jumped from her seat behind her desk when a familiar voice spoke from behind her.
"Sakura. Tadaima."
Sakura's eyes filled with tears as she threw her arms around Sasuke's shoulders and buried her face in his neck. "Okaeri," she whispered softly.
