Sakura is frozen where she stands. The tears in her eyes have disappeared for a moment as she processes who she sees standing before her. "Am…Am I dreaming?" she says aloud. "Is that really you…Sa-Sasuke?!"
The black haired ninja looks down at Sakura and gives a little smirk. "I assure you Sakura, you are not dreaming. I have really come back. I must say you have really grown over the past years." Sakura still stands motionless.
Finally, Sakura leaps over and gives Sasuke a big hug, her arms wrapped around his neck. "Sasuke!! It really is you!" the strawberry blonde screams. "Oh my goodness. I can't believe it really is you." Sakura feels a hand patting her on the back.
"Um… Sakura… I can't breathe," says the Uchiha. Sakura releases her hold and jumps back, blushing a little. "Oh dear, I am sorry. I was just so excited to see you," replies Sakura. "It is ok," Sasuke says, "I am glad to see you as well."
"Oh…oh my gosh, I have so many questions… I don't know where to start. What are you doing here? What happened over the past three years? Did you finish your personal mission? And what is with the blade?" a flustered Sakura asks.
Sasuke gives a little laugh. "Same old Sakura, always with the questions. I just got here and I am starving. What say we go grab a bite to eat and I can answer all your questions?" Sakura nods in agreement.
The two old friends and former squad members take a seat at a local eatery. While enjoying his meal and Sakura has tea, Sasuke fills Sakura in on his three years of training and the new weapon skills he learned, which explained the blade.
Sakura fills Sasuke in on Naruto's training, their searches for him, her years of training in the medical field, and all the news on the friends in the village. She even talked about who was dating who, but in her haste forgot to mention herself.
The two finish their up and head out down the street. They are walking side by side, Sakura with her hands behind her back as she looks at the night sky. "And to think today started out so rotten. I am so glad Sasuke is back and unharmed."
Sakura then looks over at the Uchiha. "Oh yeah," comments Sakura, "Sasuke, you never did tell me if you finished your personal mission and what you are doing back now." Sasuke turns and looks into Sakura's eyes and nods.
"You are right," replies Sasuke. "Well my personal mission is not complete and that is actually part of the reason I came back to the village. Even through my training I know that I am not strong enough yet, so I came to talk to the Hokage."
"I wanted to ask her if I could form my own team with Naruto and Shikamaru to aid me in my goal. I feel their talents would be best to hold off the rest of the Akatsuki while I handle my end." Sasuke then stops walking, his head down.
"But there is also a second reason I came back to the village," the black haired shinobi says. "Oh, really? And what reason is that?" Sakura asks, still staring into the sky. She then feels the Uchiha's hand on her shoulder and turns to him.
"The other reason is to make a claim I was too stupid and naïve to say those years ago," Sasuke replies. He puts his other hand on Sakura's other shoulder. "Sakura, I was blind by my own hatred that I never realized how much I cared for you."
Sakura's eyes open wide as she hears the words flowing from the Uchiha's mouth. "Sa-Sasuke…" Sakura whispers, her eyes looking downward and slightly to the right. "Sasuke, you know I care about you very much."
"But there is something I need to tell you. I am actually seeing…" Sakura speech is suddenly interrupted by the lips of the black-haired Uchiha pressing against hers. Her eyes grow wide in surprise. "What the heck?" she thinks to herself.
Sakura is momentarily overcome by the kiss and she slowly closes her eyes while in the embrace. But just as quickly as her eyes became fully shut, they spring wide open. She releases the shared kiss and drops her head down and says, "I'm sorry."
"Why? What is it Sakura?" Sasuke asks. "I care about you Sasuke, I really do," Sakura replies, "but I can't do this…My heart belongs to another." Sasuke has a look of shock on his usually stoic face. "Wha… what did you just say?"
"I am in love with Gaara-kun," the strawberry blonde says softly to Sasuke. Sasuke's face now shows a little bit of frustration. "I just spent three years away from you, I finally express my true feelings, and you are in love with another?"
"I know, Sasuke, but I couldn't wait forever. I thought you were gone for good. Gaara-kun is a wonderful person. I still care for you and always will Sasuke, but not with my heart," Sakura says as she grabs Sasuke's hands and holds them.
Sakura looks down to see the crystal in her necklace suddenly vibrating and glowing blue. In the distance she hears the sound of paper hitting the ground. She turns to her left to see what made that noise, and her eyes grow the size of silver-dollars.
Standing by a corner of the street is Gaara. His face in shock of what he is seeing; so shocked that he dropped the bouquet of roses he was going to surprise Sakura with. "Ga-Gaara-kun!" Sakura says in surprise.
Gaara is still standing motionless, his face frigid as stone. He looks at Sakura and then over at Sasuke. The red-head's face now shows a bit of sorrow in the eyes. All he can say is "Glad to see you back, Sasuke." He turns around and walks away.
"Gaara-kun! Wait a minute, please!" Sakura screams as she runs after the Kazekage. Sasuke just stands where he is, looking at her run after Gaara. "Hmph, so it looks like I have to face Gaara in another kind of battle," he says with a smirk…
Sakura finally runs down and catches up with Gaara. "Gaara-kun, please stop. I beg of you," Sakura pleas as tears form down her face. Gaara finally stops and turns around, his head slumped down. "Please Gaara-kun, it isn't what you think!"
Gaara still stares at the ground as he replies, "So I was just thinking that I saw you and Sasuke kissing?" Sakura drops to her knees and covers her face with hands, "Oh Gaara, I am so confused right now. I don't know what to do."
"I don't know what I can say right now to make things right here, but please understand that I was caught off guard," Sakura says with the tears now flowing down her face like a waterfall. She then feels a hand on her cheek.
"Sakura-chan," Gaara answers, "you know that I care about you more than anything in the world, right? And I also know that your feelings for Sasuke have been around longer than the feelings you have had for me…"
"I can honestly say that I do not know what is going through your head, but I love you so much that I just want you to be happy. That is why I am going to give you some time to clear your head and figure out who you really love."
"But Gaara, I already know who…" Sakura's words are halted by a single finger pressed against her lips. "Don't answer now," Gaara says. "I will give you the two weeks we have left before the Chunin exams to search your heart."
With those words, Gaara stands back and looks back at the strawberry blonde with a small smile. "I just want you to be happy in your decision," Gaara whispers as sand engulfs him and disappears with Gaara, leaving Sakura there to ponder.
Next Chapter - "Decision Made"
The video version of this fanfic chapter can be seen via youtube under the same title or under the channel of bkeller1976.