CHAPTER THREE

IN CONFIDENCE

The next couple of days were odd for Sakura. Every time she caught a glimpse of Naruto's smile, she felt her heart melt. This melting sensation wasn't like the butterflies Sasuke had given her in the past, but a tantalizing thrill. She and Naruto did not meet with each other, but she longed to be alone with him. It was often when Sarada asked about her father, that Sakura felt herself crashing back down to reality.

The pink haired kunoichi drew the cup of coffee to her lips as she leaned against the counter in the hospital's break room. Ino Yamanaka watched her suspiciously. Sakura glanced over, and parted her lips from her cup. "What?" she asked cluelessly.

"Sakura…" Ino began as she walked closer to the girl. She took a moment to look around before setting her gaze once more on the girl. "What happened?"

"Huh?" Sakura questioned almost choking on her coffee.

"You've been too quiet lately. Something's happened. It's not like you to constantly daydream," Ino explained.

Sakura felt her heart raise its tempo, as she remembered that Ino was an expert in interrogation. Lying to her would be difficult, but there was no way she could admit what was happening between her and Naruto. "Sasuke should be coming home soon," the pink haired woman answered. "I miss him."

"You're lying," Ino declared, causing Sakura's eyes to widen as her entire body went stiff. The blonde observed Sakura carefully before continuing, "And the fact that you named Sasuke-kun means you must be thinking of someone who isn't Sasuke-kun."

Sakura set down her coffee, and moved to the door to close it. She was screwed and she had backed herself into a corner. "Ino…you are my best friend," Sakura began with her back to the other female. "So what I'm about to tell you…you cannot, and I repeat, cannot tell anyone."

"When have I ever told one of your secrets?" Ino questioned with a dismissive shrug.

Even with that statement, Sakura wasn't sure. She quickly surveyed the room to make sure there was nothing to incriminate her. She peered out of the window, to ensure no one was eavesdropping. She and the other girl were alone. She forced herself to take a deep breath. It was a pointless attempt to calm her nerves. Then Sakura turned to face Ino, and suddenly said, "What would you do if you felt as though you made a huge mistake that affected your entire life and you want to take it back?"

"Like…?" Ino asked, unsure if she was following.

"I should have never married Sasuke-kun," Sakura confessed with a frown. "I just…after looking back all of these years, the person I wanted this entire time…was right there beside me, but I didn't see it until it was too late."

Ino was silent, causing Sakura's anxiety to swell within her.

"Please don't tell me that what I'm feeling is ridiculous!" Sakura exclaimed, "I feel like I'm going fucking crazy! As if nothing makes sense. And to make matters worse, he still likes me. The idiot still fucking likes me." Sakura leaned once more against the counter top and closed her eyes. Tears streamed down her cheeks. "I hate this…this is starting to spiral into a complicated mess and ugh…fuck."

Then that's when she felt Ino's soft lips on hers. Sakura opened her eyes, unsure of what was happening. "What are you doing?!" Sakura exclaimed, only to be greeted by a laugh of the other female.

"Calming you down," Ino grinned, before moving so she was standing beside Sakura, rather than in front of her. "But no, I understand what you mean. I had that sort of realization one night a few years ago, when I woke up and saw Sai beside me. It was the whole, huh, so this is what forever feels like? Don't get me wrong, he's cute, but Sai…he's boring."

"No, I know," Sakura lightly laughed. "I mean, he was my teammate."

"And you didn't warn me, why?" Ino teased, managing to get a laugh out of Sakura. "See, now that's the Sakura I know. Well, there's also the I-have-a-stick-shoved-up-my-ass Sakura as well."

Sakura offered Ino the craziest of expressions before pinching the blonde's arm.

"Ow, ow, I take it back," Ino laughed within her winces. When Sakura released her, a light breath left Ino's lips as she looked up toward the ceiling fan's blades spinning. "I use to have this kinky dream. I couldn't move, it was as though I was bound, but there wasn't a rope. My heart was pounding in my chest as I saw him slide his hand up my skirt. Now, don't forget, the entire time I was paralyzed. I regained control over my toes right when I involuntarily made them curl. I remember him crawling over me and I whispered, "but what if my husband finds out" and he just offered that same smirk he always did in the past…" Ino glanced over toward Sakura. "Then I woke up."

"Wait…that's how it ended?"

"Well, yeah," Ino admitted. "I mean, it wasn't like I could go up to him and say, "hey I know you're married and all, but I had the wildest dream that you were fucking me"." Ino rolled her eyes before looking ahead once more. "I think because of the general lack of luster in my relationship, I've found myself just wanting something more."

"Right," Sakura answered disappointedly.

"So you know he likes you too?" Ino asked.

"Yeah," Sakura replied. "At least that's what he told me."

Ino smiled a sad smile before saying, "I guess you truly are always one step ahead of me."

Sakura looked at the blonde ninja and pulled her into a tight hug. "You know, it's not like you to admit defeat," the lead medical ninja whispered with a playful laugh. Ino shrugged her shoulders. "Sakura, our game ended a long time ago. Remember, you married Sasuke."

"Fuck Sasuke-kun!" Sakura snapped as she took a step back. Ino stared at her in disbelief, unable to process words. Sakura continued, "I hate how caught up I was in him. I hate how stubborn I was! I hate that the dream I held so tightly to, wasn't what I had expected. Yes, he says he loves me. Yes, he always brings me back a present whenever he ventures off. Yes, he offers me tiny little smiles. However the Sasuke-kun I loved, the one I pined for, didn't exist." He didn't exist. That was the first time she had ever voiced that aloud. So, was her unhappiness even Sasuke's fault.

Ino placed a hand on her shoulder before gently squeezing it. "If you need anyone to talk to, I'm here for you."

After work, Sakura went to the market to find something for supper. She glanced over at the produce section. Maybe tonight she would make some kind of curry? And then that's when she saw the tomatoes, and felt her heart sink. Why was she thinking of Sasuke? Or more so, she wondered what he would say, or how he would react to find out his wife was contemplating a divorce. What would happen to Sarada in the process?

"Sakura-san," she then heard Hinata say. Her skin felt cold as she slowly looked over at Naruto's wife. This was the girl Sakura played matchmaker with. This was the girl, she convinced herself, was more deserving of Naruto than herself. If it were not for Sakura, the couple would have not even existed. If it weren't for her push, she didn't think a simple minded guy like Naruto would have even noticed Hinata's feelings. Sakura smiled not wanting to come off as odd and waved at the other woman.

"Sakura-san, it's nice running into you," Hinata greeted in an overly friendly manner.

"Yeah, same here," Sakura lightly laughed.

"How are things? I know we don't talk often…and I wanted to change that," Hinata tried to explain.

"Oh, it's um…it's alright," Sakura told her, however Hinata frowned when she saw how uncomfortable Sakura appeared. The pink haired girl noticed this so she quickly added, "Sasuke is rarely home, but at least I have Sarada-chan to keep me company."

"That's so sad," Hinata commented.

Sakura returned to grabbing her vegetables for her curry, when she heard Hinata continue, "Naruto-kun and I do think it's sad that you and Sarada-chan spend so many nights alone, so we think you should have dinner with us. Sarada-chan could also play with my children."

"You are Naruto talk about me?" Sakura asked in disbelief.

"All the time," Hinata said with a smile.

'Naruto you idiot…' Sakura thought as she pictured him giggling over this awkward situation.

"Are you free?" Hinata asked.

"Um, sure," Sakura answered. "I just have to let Sarada-chan know to dress nicely tonight."

Hinata nodded happily and took hold of Sakura's hands. "I'm happy you'll be able to visit though. Naruto-kun often expresses how much he misses you and Sasuke-kun. All I want is to make him happy."

Sakura stared at Hinata as she realized the girl really didn't know about the true state of her marriage. There weren't any words she could say. So she simply nodded and accepted Hinata's invitation. Sakura couldn't deny that she had a bad feeling about this. She didn't know which was worse, seeing Naruto or knowing that her own marriage was unraveling before her. Her heart also sank for Hinata, because she was clueless about how the hokage truly felt about his marriage.

"Sakura-san," Hinata spoke up, snatching the pink haired girl's attention once more to her. Hinata was frowning this time. "Are you ok?"

"Yeah," Sakura laughed as she dismissively waved her hand toward the other woman. "Why wouldn't I?"

Hinata wrinkled her brows and quietly said, "Just a moment ago…you looked very troubled."

"I just have a lot on my mind," she replied and slipped another tomato into her basket. "Well, I should be going Hinata. I'll see you tonight, right?"

Hinata nodded happily.

Sakura turned and started walking away when Hinata suddenly said, "Sakura-san, I have one more question to ask." The pink haired kunoichi's heart skipped a beat as her eyes widened. Had she figured it out? Slowly she looked back at the dark haired girl. "Yes?" she answered.

"How does Sarada-chan feel about Boruto?"

Sakura found herself forcing another smile. There was no way she could tell Hinata the truth about Sarada's disinterest in the blonde boy. "Sarada is going through an interesting time in her life. Who's to say if she even understands what she's going through," Sakura replied.

Hinata shyly smiled as she gathered the courage to continue with her original thought. "Do you remember what you suggested after we found out I was having a boy and you were having a girl?"

Sakura paused a moment as she tried to think back to their pregnancies. It was so long ago.

"You had suggested how cool it would be if our children ever got married," Hinata continued, however she was embarrassed. The fact Hinata didn't feel comfortable saying what she needed to say, made Sakura feel uneasy. "I think Boruto is developing feelings for Sarada-chan."

"Wait, Bolt likes my daughter?" Sakura questioned in disbelief.

"She's all he talks about," Hinata answered.

"Well, she technically talks about him too," Sakura said, purposely omitting the fact that everything Sarada says about Bolt…is often negative. "Just, for Bolt's sake, remind him that women can be complicated sometimes. Love is in general. You never know when Cupid's arrow will hit. However, I think Ino is hoping that Inojin will fall for her as well." Sakura had meant for the Ino part to be a joke, which is why she was surprised when Hinata closed her eyes and smiled as she commented.

"I think it's safe to say that Naruto-kun's and my nindo passed down into our child. He will never give up."

A/N: So, it's been a long time since I've updated, and I apologize. Life hit really hard, but I have wifi now. Luckily I've written about ten more chapters for this story, so I'll be steadily releasing them as I attempt to catch up on my ChoHina story. Anywho, please review! Thank you! xoxo