Enjoy.
"He's sleeping now," I take Naruto's arm and lead him downstairs to the kitchen, "I have to eat, I'm starving."
"Is that what it's been like here?"
I pause by the fridge and nod.
"Yeah. There were a few nights where things were okay - actually, they were good," I stick my head in the fridge and sigh, "Then we just started pissing each other off."
"What happened?"
"It was a number of things," I pull out a container of ramen, "I think we're both just frustrated being here."
"Sakura, he's not just frustrated," Naruto watches me until I stop what I'm doing and look him in the eye, "I don't think you realize how painful it is for him to be here. His parents died in this house. This is where he grew up with the brother that betrayed him. He thought he was going to spend the rest of his life in this village."
Guilt washes over me when I realize that I haven't given one thought to his emotional wellbeing in this house. I've just been blaming him for something he has no control over while preaching about myself and Naruto.
"I was mad," my voice is a whisper, "We were finally moving on," Naruto starts to protest, "I thought we were. And then I found him. All I wanted to do was get away from him when we started staying here. I didn't realize how painful it would be to have him back. He's just a constant reminder of everything we went through, everything him leaving did to us."
"He didn't do it to spite us, Sakura. The way you're feeling, it isn't his fault," Naruto's voice is soft. A flurry of angry protests rise in my throat, but I know it's only my pride.
I've been selfish. I've been treating Sasuke like a burden, the same way I felt when we were kids.
"He made the choice to leave us and every other choice after that which he's going to have to deal with for the rest of his life, but we're in no position to pass judgement. He could never have been the team member we wanted him to be with the circumstances he was given, but if he were any different, he wouldn't be the friend we love," Naruto grips the counter until his knuckles turn white, "I still love him, no matter what happens, no matter what he did or what he does I will always love and respect him like a brother."
I heave a heavy sigh and run my hands through my hair. Could I say the same? Can I?
"I used to think it would be so easy having him back. I thought we could just fall back into our old patterns. We could start training together again, you two would resume your rivalry, I would go back to pining after him," I scoff and avert my gaze.
"Do you still love him?"
"No," I state firmly, "Not like that."
Naruto chews the inside of his cheek for a moment, then nods.
"Is Tsunade really thinking about - you know?"
"I don't know," I admit, "But she's not doing him any favors."
"What do you think the council will decide?"
"I don't know," I sigh, frustrated, and rub my hands together, "Can we just talk about something else? How was the honeymoon? How's Hinata?"
"It was great, she's good - we're good," he smiles but it fades soon after, "She doesn't know I'm here; I've only been married a month and I'm already lying to my wife. I guess I'm not off to the best start," he shakes his head.
"What did you tell her?"
"She thinks I'm meeting Shikamaru," he shrugs, "It's not like they hang out or speak really unless Temari is here."
"Well, he rarely speaks to anyone so I think you're safe there," I grin and we laugh softly, half-heartedly. I start prepping utensils and reheating the food. "So what did you do on your honeymoon?"
Naruto grins; a proud, boasting grin.
"Lots of things," he drags out the words.
"Ewww," I groan, swatting my hand like I can bat the suggestive comment away, "It's bad enough with Sai and Ino being complete exhibitionists without you chiming in."
"I didn't say anything," he holds his hands up in defense, "You and your dirty mind went there all on your own."
"Just shows I've been hanging around you and Kakashi too long," I pour the soup into three bowls and drop it in the sink; the dishes are stacking up. I grab a plate to cover one of the bowls and leave it on the counter for Sasuke. Naruto and I slip outside to sit on the deck in the backyard. The sun has started to set casting pink and purple hues across the sky; it's beautiful except for the guards stationed at various intervals along the fence.
"Mmm," Naruto says through a mouthful of noodle, "I got to pet a monkey at the zoo!"
