AYE AYE CAPTAIN! SHITE- I MEAN SHORT CHAPTERS AHEAD! Let me know what you think, it really makes my day. :)

"Don't argue girl. Take these herbs to the hot springs and soak for an hour. No more, no less." Yukiyo waggled her fingers in Sakuras face, and thrust a small bundle into her hands. "And don't come back until you're done. NO EXCUSES!"

Sakura made a face and opened her mouth to argue, but thought better of it. Huffing indignantly she turned on her heel and stomped off to the hot springs.

Ugh.

Aggressively swatting her way through pretty much everything in her path, she sighed. She knew what Yukiyo was trying to do. The only problem was that it wasn't working. Throwing the loosely tied bundle into the clearest spring she could find, she shuffled a bit clumsily out of her clothes. Something about murky water of any depth unsettled her. She didn't dwell on it though, this particular pool was so clear that she could see the occasional bubble slick up from the colorful, rocky bottom.

As she pulled down her hair she noticed that it was beginning to get long again. Maybe just a bit past her shoulders. Absently twisting the pink strands between her fingers she felt her thoughts turn in an uncomfortable direction, it was probably time to cut it again. But part of her really didn't want to keep it up anymore. A rather big part at that. She wasn't likely to forget why she kept it short in the first place, not now. Not ever.

She'd already more than proved herself and passed everyone's (including her own) expectations. Long hair, short hair or bald shiny scalp would have zero effect on her physical prowess now. Most ninja and civilians alike immediately recognized her pink hair and chipper demeanor, and most ninja and civilians gave her a wide berth. Unless of course she was needed. Playing with fire was one thing; rolling around in it naked was another.

She hadn't stopped fighting for Sasuke either.

But he was back now, maybe not in body but in spirit. Still far away from Konoha, walking his unknown path to redemption. So was there really any need to keep fighting?

She stepped into the spring and inhaled the musty aroma of the steeping herbs, and blissfully lost her train of thought. Sinking in a little deeper she decided to keep her hair long.

If only for a little while longer.