Chapter 2.

Campaign documents tucked under her arm, Sakura quietly closed the front door of her apartment behind her and stepped out of her shoes, Tsunade's words still rolling around in her head.

"I wouldn't have picked you if I didn't think you could do this."

Shoving her feet into a pair of pink house slippers, Sakura made a beeline for her kitchen, dropping her bundle of papers on the kitchen table along with her equipment belt and medical pack before going to the stove, intent on making herself a cup of tea.

Grabbing the empty teapot off the stove, Sakura removed the lid and strode over to the sink. After setting the pot down in the metal basin, she flipped the tap and turned her attention towards the overhead cabinets, searching briefly before withdrawing a bag of jasmine tea leaves and her favorite porcelain teacup. It had been an incredibly thoughtful (and very late) birthday gift from her former sensei. Hand-crafted in Tea Country, the teacup was painted a pale mint green with thin brown branches and vibrant pink cherry blossoms wrapping elegantly around the curved surface.

Turning back to the sink, Sakura shut off the faucet and set teapot on top of the stove, replacing the lid before twisting a plastic dial to light the gas-fueled burner.

"I have complete faith in you."

With the promise of tea set into motion, Sakura turned away from the stove and crossed the kitchen to the refrigerator where she put away the rest of her stir-fry and grabbed a bowl of grapes to snack on while she waited for her tea water to boil. Taking the bowl with her, Sakura crossed the room once more to sit at the kitchen table, her eyes, in the process, catching a glimpse of one of the picture frames hanging on the wall.

Looking up, she smiled softly at the photographs and shelves that covered the wall, cluttered with various knick-knacks and souvenirs she and her friends had acquired over the years. Each item brought forth precious memories in her mind.

At the top of the collection was a photo of her and Ino, taken on the day they had been promoted to Jonin shortly following the war. They were standing together, arms around the small of each other's back, as they stood in the middle of a once bustling marketplace. If she remembered correctly, they had been clearing debris in the civilian district when the news was delivered, and Ino, despite the obvious reconstruction measures taking place in the background, had demanded that someone find a camera and take a picture.

It hadn't been until a particularly late night at one of the makeshift bars, put up for the sanity of the shinobi living in the temporary housing camps on the east side of the village, that Ino had drunkenly confessed to them why she had wanted the photo taken on the spot.

"It's -hic- symbolic… It's proof that even if -hic- if they destroy our home… we will come together… and -hic- and we will rise from the ashes... I wanna remember -hic- these moments… our strength… for the rest of my life."

To say the least, Ino Yamanaka had gained the respect of many of her fellow shinobi that night.

Chuckling softly at the memory, Sakura shifted her attention to the next photograph.

Despite being captured only a few months after its predecessor, this photo was dramatically different.

At the center of the image was a couple, a man and a woman, a beaming bride and her blushing groom. The two brunettes were dressed in ceremonial reds, whites, and black, standing wrapped in each other's arms in front of a grove of beautiful plum blossoms. Their eyes were glued to one another, their shared expression tender, full of love and joy and hope for the next chapter of their lives. It was so pure and sweet… and stood out in stark contrast to the crowd of their loud and boisterous friends surrounding them in the same frame, all watching the happy couple with variations of the same knowing look.

Neji and Tenten's wedding.

It had been the first wedding held in the village after the war. One which was celebrated by the entire village as a symbol of the strength that Ino had loudly proclaimed about months before. It had been a sign of hope for the future of Konoha and its people.

Sakura's gaze drifted to the beautiful set of hair sticks that sat in their decorative case on the shelf beside the photo. Painted a vibrant red with tiny white flowers, the ornament had been a gift from Tenten after the newlyweds returned from their honeymoon in Wave Country. Despite their profession and the limited opportunities it provided them with to dress elegantly, the weapons specialist had always secretly loved fine jewelry and accessories. As such, she had been adamant that the ladies of the Konoha 11 each have at least one piece of finery that could double as a weapon.

Sakura could still remember the grin on the brunette's face as she boldly declared that the gifts brought new meaning to the phrase, "dressed to kill."

Shaking her head, Sakura glanced at the tiny stone nine-tailed fox sitting beside the hair sticks. It had been given to her by one of the medics from Iwagakure during one of her diplomatic visits in the early months following the war. She had been sent there to help evaluate and reorganize the medic-nin curriculum while Naruto and Tsunade met with the Tsuchikage and other village officials.

It had been during the end of their trip that she was approached by a young kunoichi, one whom had, like herself, been promoted after the war. At first, she had been surprised by the woman's gesture, especially given the antagonistic attitude most Iwa-nin usually held towards Konoha shinobi. However, after learning that medic had been one of the many shinobi she had treated during the war, and had thus decided to pursue a career as a medic nin, Sakura couldn't bring herself to refuse the woman's gift.

Reaching up, Sakura ran a slim finger along the smooth curves of the tiny sculpture and smiled.

It was a really cute figurine after all.

Retracting her hand, Sakura shifted her gaze to the photo hanging below the shelf. Her heart warmed at the image and the memory of an uncharacteristically excited Shino presenting them with an opened gold-embroidered scroll. A scroll given only to those who had passed the Academy Instructors exam.

It had been a proud day for Konoha 11.

Eyes travelling over the other photographs and trinkets, Sakura recalled many other proud moments with a smile.

Temari and Shikamaru getting engaged, Hinata graciously passing her position as Heiress to the Hyuuga Clan down to her younger sister, Hanabi, the completion of the very first psychiatry and mental health ward at Konoha General Hospital, Naruto's official appointment as Tsunade's successor…

So much had happened in the decade years since the war…

"Sometimes, it just doesn't feel real," she said softly to herself, gaze softening as she caught sight of the small photo that had started it all:

Genin Team 7.

Somehow, despite the fractured relationship of its original members, the small photograph had survived the collapse of her previous apartment complex, as well as the fire that had engulfed large portions of the village during the Akatsuki raid. She still remembered the exact moment that she had pulled it out of the wreckage. It was one of the few moments that Naruto had smiled during the first few weeks following the war. Framed cracked and glass shattered, the picture had miraculously stayed intact - much unlike the team it depicted.

Reaching out to gently touch the worn frame, Sakura smiled sadly once more at the grinning and disgruntled faces looking back at her, at the memories of happier and simpler times.

When the shrill whistle of the tea kettle erupted from the stove behind her, she let out a small sigh and quickly made her way back to the stove. After removing the kettle and shutting off the gas, she poured herself a cup and took a long sip, silently letting the hot liquid dissolve the tight knot of emotions growing in her throat.

After finishing her first cup, Sakura poured herself another before walking over to the kitchen table and picking up the campaign documents. Then, turning back to the old photograph, she locked eyes with the little girl with long pink hair and a hopeful smile and smiled encouragingly.

"It won't be easy," she said gently to the image of her younger self, "but don't ever give up… I promise, one day, you'll have the strength to protect the people you love."

Then, she flicked off the lights and headed for her bedroom.

Tsunade watched silently as the operative across from her stepped in from the ledge, his long black travel cloak fluttering around him as his sandaled feet noiselessly hit the ground.

"I'd say welcome back, but it's rarely a pleasure to see you," she remarked dryly, reluctantly returning to her seat as the ninja stopped in front of her desk, placing a large scroll in front of her before stepping back. She eyed the sealed document briefly with curiosity before fixing her gaze on his expressionless wooden mask. "Report."

"The target, Usami Kitoroba, Missing-nin of Kiri, has been neutralized and I have retrieved the stolen documents that you requested, Hokage-sama." The shinobi reached into one of the hip pouches on his belt, hidden from Tsunade's view by his long dark traveling cloak, and withdrew a second thick scroll, marked with the seal of the Sandaime Hokage. He stepped forward briefly to place the scroll in Tsunade's outstretched hand before returning to his place several paces away from her desk.

Reaching forward, Tsunade examined the scroll and the Sandaime's seal, pleased to find that it hadn't been broken or tampered with.

"And what of your other mission?" the Hokage asked after placing the scroll in a secure drawer in her desk. "Kami knows no one other than Naruto hears from him."

The figure nodded, "I received word not long ago from one of my contacts on the border of Wave Country. He's made several trips across the border during the past four months, irregularly and always at different points along the border. Most recently, he entered Wave about two weeks ago and left the same day."

Brows pinched, Tsunade leaned forward to rest her elbows on her desk, hands steepled together as she processed this new piece of information. "For someone wanting to see the world from a new perspective… he sure is spending a lot of time in Wave."

The cloaked shinobi shrugged faintly before speaking once more. "Maybe he's looking for a vacation spot. I heard it's a nice place to spend the winter."

Tsunade shot him a bland look, his humor obviously unwanted, before sighing in frustration. "Do you have anything else to report?"

When the ninja's head shook as a negative, Tsunade rolled the mission scroll shut and set it aside. Then, she gave him a dismissive wave of her hand as she pulled open another file on her desk. "Should you learn anything more, notify me. For now, go home and rest, you can give me your official report sometime tomorrow. You're dismissed."

"Hai, Hokage-sama," the shinobi replied with a bow before turning away from Tsunade's desk and heading towards the open window he'd entered through. However, before he could step up onto the windowsill, the blonde called after him.

"Oh, and Sasori," she called, lifting her head long enough to fix the man with a stern stare. "I doubt you need a reminder of what will happen if you break her heart."

Hood falling to his shoulders as he turned to face the woman, the Suna defector lifted a gloved hand to remove his mask and meet Tsunade's gaze directly, a confident smile stretching across his lips as he nodded. Over the years since he'd returned to Konoha, he'd grown used to the blonde Hokage's threats, to the point that they had become more of a greeting than a warning. Nevertheless, they did indeed serve as a reminder of how important he'd become to the pink-haired medic, and how delicate his place in the village remained, and so he always made sure to reply accordingly.

"Don't worry, you'll be first in line to murder me if she doesn't."

Then he was gone.

Tossing the campaign folders on her desk, Sakura took another sip of tea and shut her bedroom door behind her. Then, after setting the teacup down and freeing her long pink hair from its ponytail, she grabbed her bathrobe and headed for the bathroom.

Once inside, Sakura hung her robe on the hook on the back of the door before peeling off her clothes and tossing them in the laundry bin. Then, reaching past the shower curtain, she cranked the silver knob to the left and tested the water. Once she was satisfied with the temperature, she stepped under the warm spray and closed her eyes, humming softly as the smell of latex and antiseptic evaporated with the steam.

After a few moments simply standing and enjoying the relaxing heat of her shower, Sakuura ran a hand through her wet locks and reached for her favorite bottle of scented shampoo. Squeezing the opaque liquid out of the blue bottle, Sakura snapped the cap shut and set the container down before massaging it into her hair, humming happily to herself as the scent of lavender and vanilla filled the air. Then, after ducking her head under the warm spray and tying her hair back, she grabbed her body wash and carried on with the rest of her shower.

Ten minutes later, the medic found herself pleasantly snuggled in her plush bathrobe with her hair wrapped up in a towel as she leaned over the edge of her bathtub to plug the drain and turn on the tap. Then, after testing the temperature of the rising water, she tossed in the bath bomb Ino had given her for her birthday before heading out to the kitchen in search of wine and yesterday's leftover katsudon.

It didn't take long for her to fine either and, after bumping the refrigerator door shut with her hip and pouring her food into a bowl, Sakura popped her late-night snack into the microwave. A few beeps later, the soft drone of the microwave and the smell of re-heated katsudon filled the air as Sakura reached over to pull open a nearby drawer and extract a pair of chopsticks. Then, reaching up into the cupboards, she pulled out one of the colorful wine glasses she'd bought with Hinata when she first moved into her apartment and set it on the counter.

She had just finished pouring herself a glass and stowing the wine bottle back in the refrigerator when the microwave beeped, signaling that her meal was ready. However, just as the pinkette went to retrieve her food, she was surprised to find both her bowl and chopsticks being held out to her by a very familiar pair of hands.

Wide-eyed, Sakura's gaze travel upwards, slowly following the expanse of tanned skin from the tips of long fingers to lean forearms and toned biceps that morphed into a strong set of shoulders before disappearing under a tight-fitting black undershirt. Heart pounding, Sakura found herself unable to look away, carefully tracing every contour of her companion's features. From the sharpness of his adam's apple to the smooth edge of his jaw and the curve of his pale lips as they curled into an amused smirk beneath his pointed nose, his dark eyes dancing with mischief as he raised a curious scarlet eyebrow at her from beneath his messy red locks.

"You're home..." She breathed at last, her surprise evident as she continued to look the man up and down for any visible signs of injury, a deeply ingrained habit of hers, before smiling brightly when none were found.

"You're finally home!" She exclaimed excitedly, hastily grabbing her food and chopsticks from his hands and setting them on the counter before launching herself into his arms.

A surprised laugh escaped the man as he braced himself for the impact. She collided first with his chest, throwing her arms around his neck in a tight hug, before wrapping her legs around his waist and sending them both hurtling towards the ground. Thankfully, he was quick to react, wrapping one arm tightly around her waist and latching onto the edge of the counter with his other.

However, before he could even warn her - whom was still clad in only slippers and her bathrobe - about the dangers of tackling someone on a tile kitchen floor, she kissed him… and he promptly forgot the rest of the world as they toppled to the ground.

He had been away for a few months this time, tracking a missing ninja from Kirigakure through the mountains of Earth Country – because apparently the council had thought that maybe hypothermia would kill him this time. Unfortunately for them, his target was not accustomed to the drastic weather changes that often plagued mountain ranges, so he'd become a sitting duck when the first mountain storm swept through. If the fool been more prepared, Sasori was confident that it would have taken him much longer to return.

It was a mission he was glad to be done with, though. He hated the mountains, but he hated being away from the petite woman currently laying on top of him for months on end even more.

Although… if being away for three months meant he would be greeted with such fervor…

He chuckled. "Is this how you greet all of your unexpected guests?" He asked when they finally parted for air, tugging teasingly on the hem of her cotton bathrobe. "Or am I just special?"

Looking down, and only then remembering what she was wearing, Sakura blushed. Then, just as she was about to answer, she recalled why she had been in the kitchen in the first place.

"My bubble bath!" she exclaimed.

Pushing herself off of Sasori, Sakura was on her feet and dashing towards the bathroom in a flash, leaving her companion behind to watch her go with a mixture of confusion and amusement.

Then, after staring for a few seconds longer at the space the medic once occupied, Sasori peeled himself off the floor, dusted himself off and sauntered after his companion. When he found her a few moments later, the towel that had been holding her hair back at gone and she was bent over the edge of a very full bathtub surrounded by pink bubbles in a bathroom that smelled like fresh summer peaches.

"Looks like someone had plans." He commented, chuckling softly at the pointed look she sent him over her shoulder. Then, for good measure, he jerked his thumb towards the door and asked, "Should I come back later?"

Sakura rolled her eyes at his remark, but, instead of spouting off one of her usual witty responses, she simply stood and turned away from him. Then, casting a glance over her shoulder to make sure he was watching, she untied her bathrobe and smiled invitingly as it hit the floor.

"It's up to you. You can leave... or... you can join me."

Pushing himself off the doorframe he was leaning against, Sasori reached for the hem of his shirt and smirked. "Well... if you insist."

HAPPY NEW YEARS, EVERYONE!

I hope you are all doing well and staying safe!

I am sorry for taking so long to publish this chapter, I was stuck on a specific section and it just refused to work itself out until now!

Anyways, thank you as always for all of your support! I promise that there will be background information provided in due time about Sasori and Sakura's history.

Please let me know what y'all think so far!

~Smash41KMF

- 01.09.2021

Updated: 9/6/2022