Chapter Five

Karin helped Sasuke back into bed, he sighed deeply. She rolled up her sleeves and began massaging his legs, she had asked one of the nurses if they could show her so she could help him as much as she could.

"Does that hurt?" He shook his head no.

"It feels good." He closed his eyes as she continued massaging his legs. She felt herself blushing.

"You're progress is remarkable I don't think most would be up walking by now."

"Of course I'm different, I'm the sole survivor of the Uchiha clan." He folded his arms making her shake her head.

"Cocky aren't we?" He laughed softly.

There was a soft knock on the door before the door opened. Sasuke instantly looked down as Karin bowed her head.

"Kakashi-Sama." She whispered.

"Hi Karin, do you mind if I speak with Sasuke in private?"

"Go head." She place the sheets back over Sasuke's legs and bowed to Kakashi before leaving the room. Kakashi sat down on the chair across his former student.

"Sasuke." He began Sasuke closed his eyes he couldn't bear to look at the man that he once respected with all he had. "Look at me." He heard Kakashi's firm voice, Sasuke slowly looked at him only to see a gentle smile. "You've grown so much."

"I thought you hated me!" Sasuke felt himself shake. Kakashi folded his arms.

"If I hated you I would have never given you a pardon, besides I hate what you did more than I hate you, I never hated you. You, Naruto and Sakura were my students you three meant a great deal to me back then and you three still do to this day. No matter how old you three may grow you will always have a place in my heart." Sasuke's eyes widened. "You're all like my children."

"Kakashi-Sensei, gomen." He whispered trying to hold back tears.

"I know." Kakshi sat next to him and gave him a hug as Sasuke cried on his shoulder.

Sakura smiled leaning against the wall of the door. She was glad that everything was slowly going back to normal. Even their friends all visited Sasuke putting past feelings behind them. She was certain there were no more hard feelings between Sasuke and his former allies.

Sakura sat in her office and sighed deeply as she wrote out her reports. She loved her job but the paper work was exhausting. She rubbed her head and sighed again.

"What's with the grim face?" She looked up and saw Sasuke. She stood up and walked over to him.

"Sasuke-kun, what are you doing here?" She asked. He smiled.

"I thought I stop by to see you as I do my thirty minute walk." He replied. She smiled and nodded.

"Where's Karin?"

"She went to get me some water. I told her I was going to come here." She nodded and rubbed her head again. He looked at her. "Are you alright?" He placed his hand on her shoulder. She felt herself blush a bit but she nodded.

"I'm fine. Did you have any visits today?" She changed the subject. He rolled his eyes and shook his head.

"Naruto came by to bug me before he left with Konohamaru and his group."

"Oh…he did? I didn't see him."

"He didn't come to see you? Usually he does." She slowly nodded. He was acting strange when they had lunch that day, he looked like he wanted to ask her something but didn't know how to. "Well I know he'll be back later, he usually comes here two or three times a day to bug me." She giggled and nodded.

"You're right."

Naruto rubbed his head looking confused as Sakura didn't look at him as she sorted her papers in the file cabinets.

"Sakura-Chan, what's wrong?" He tilted his head a bit.

"I see you saw Sasuke-Kun today before leaving on your mission."

"Yeah, we had a little talk since I had some time to spare." He said casually as Sakura cleared her throat trying to control her anger.

"I don't care! What do you want?!" She snapped at him. He felt confused.

"Are you mad?"

"No." She replied calmly. He smiled and walked behind her leaning close to her. She turned to him since he was invading her personal space. "Naruto, what the hell-" Her sentence was cut short when a cherry blossom was in her. She looked at Naruto who smiled.

"A beautiful cherry blossom for a gorgeous cherry blossom." Her cheeks turned a faint red.

"Naruto." She smiled softly. Naruto rubbed the back of his head.

"Before I left the hospital I dropped by but Shizune said you were in the middle of an appointment and I couldn't wait because I knew I had to go. I knew you were going to be upset once you found out I was here and didn't see you…so please let this sakura be my apology." She smiled and gave him a hug.

"Arigatou." Naruto then sat down on the chair and sighed deeply.

"I need your advice on something." She looked at him.

"Sure, what's up?" She sat on her desk in front of him.

"I know you're still in love with Sasuke…." Her eyes widened. "Let's say if I confessed to you having those feelings for Sasuke how would you let me down?" She blinked for a moment.

"You're asking me, how would I turn you down if you confessed to me?" She furrowed her eyebrows, she couldn't understand him. He sighed deeply throwing his hands in the air before running his hand through his hair.

"Hinata confessed to me but…I know I can't return her feelings…" He cleared his throat. "I mean I don't know…can I return her feelings? Should I return her feelings? I'm confused." He sighed deeply.

"Don't." She whispered without thinking. He looked at her as her eyes widened in shock. "Don't string her along." He looked down. "If you don't have feelings for her then just tell her, but if you feel like you might then don't deny her just yet?" He opened his mouth to say something but he decided to leave it. He stood up and nodded his head.

"Thanks Sakura-Chan." He silently walked out her office. She placed her palm to her face. She was really stupid.

Sasuke stared at Lee who was talking nonstop and punching his fists and kicking his legs. He then looked at Sasuke.

"So what do you think about my training plan for you?"

"You're insane." He shook his head. Lee nodded his head and jumped up.

"So that means my plan is a success, within no time you'll be up and fighting again."

Karin giggled as she cut up an apple for Sasuke.

"I never would have thought you had a girlfriend already, this is truly amazing and she's pretty too, when you two get married let me come to the wedding please." They both began blushing.

"Lee it's not like that." Sasuke told him but Lee was off in his own world so he knew there was no point in trying to tell him. He sighed deeply but smiled softly.

Later that day Sasuke walked around the courtyard trying to strengthen his muscles. He held the cane up to shoulder and tried walking on his own, he lost his balance and fell to the ground. He slowly sat up sighing deeply, not only were his legs messed up but he only one arm on top of that. He cleared his throat and used the cane to help him up. He got up before falling back down. He sighed deeply and stayed sitting on the ground. He looked up to the sky.

"What's wrong with me? I should've been healed by now, I have to keep pushing on." He stood up with the support of the cane, he held the cane off the ground and took small steps. His brain forgot how to walk and he felt like an infant again who needed to learn how to walk.

Two small children a boy about five and a girl about three ran up to him smiling.

"Onii-Chan, what are you doing?" The boy looked at him as the girl stared closely. Sasuke smiled softly.

"I'm trying to walk by myself." He told them. They both looked at each other before looking back at him.

"You can't walk without that stick?" The boy asked.

"No, I can't…you see, my legs were hurt but Sakura-Sensei fixed them and I have to get used to using my legs again." He explained. The girl then smiled.

"I love Sakura-Sensei, she's so kind and every time I'm a good girl she gives me a lollipop." She told him making him smile.

"Me too, me too." The boy jumped up and down.

"Taro, Mia what are you two doing outside, you're supposed to be in bed." A nurse walked over to them, she blushed when she and Sasuke made eye contact. She bowed her head. "K-Konnichiwa Sasuke-San."

"Konnichiwa."

"Bye Sasuke-Nii-Chan."

"Bye Sasuke Nii-Chan." They girl and boy waved and began running.

"Hey you two don't run from me." She chased after them. He looked at the cane before tossing it away from him. He began taking small steps on his own. He was determined not to give up. He then fell again landing on his stomach.

"It's not as easy as you think huh?" He heard a familiar voice before him. He looked up and smiled at the pink haired woman.

"Must you tease me Sakura?" He asked slowly sitting up he fixed the jacket around his shoulders and sighed. He slowly rose to his feet and began wobbling some he was determined to keep his balance. Sakura walked over to him and handed him his cane.

"Don't be in such a rush, if you keep doing the exercises I recommended for you by next month your legs should be stronger." She smiled. He nodded and slowly took the cane from her. He sighed deeply.

"I feel so helpless I can't move when I want to, I can't run, I can't jump or even walk."

"Sasuke-Kun, have I ever let you down?" She asked him. He looked at her and shook his head. "Trust me within time your legs will heal on their own and then Naruto, Lee are both gonna train you even Kakashi-Sensei said he'll lend a hand." She smiled.

"Great, just what I need those three down my back." He sighed. Sakura laughed and wrapped her arm around his. They both began walking.

"I can't believe how much we all grown, it seems just like yesterday we entered the academy." She smiled looking up at the clear sky. Sasuke nodded his head.

"I know you must've gotten tired of Naruto and me fighting all the time." He smiled.

"Looking back at it, it was entertaining…well until you both lost an arm." They both laughed.

"I still can't thank you enough Sakura, you've always been there thinking about me and never giving up on me."

"I couldn't you meant everything to me I didn't want to lose you to darkness." He looked at her and moved a strand of hair from her face causing her to blush.

"You've grown into a beautiful young woman." He whispered. She giggled looking down before looking back at him.

"It's funny you say that now, if you would've told me that seven years ago I think I would've fainted." They both began laughing. "But Sasuke-Kun, I think it's time we close our chapter." She told him and he nodded his head

"After all we both know where we stand with each other." He whispered.

"Yes, but I have one request." She said looking down.

"What's that?" He looked at her.

"Can I have one kiss from you? A kiss that will just officially close our chapter so we can live as best friends." She whispered. He nodded his head. They both closed the gap between each other and Sakura gently pressed her lips against his. After a couple of minutes they both separated. "Arigatou." They turned around when they heard a gasp and saw Karin standing there in shock.

"Karin." He whispered. Sakura cleared her throat.

"Um Karin, it's now what it looks like, it's just-"

"I know you told Sasuke your feelings and he returned them, congratulations." She turned and ran off.

"Karin!" Sasuke dropped the cane and went after her. Sakura knelt down picking up the cane that was left behind. She smiled. "Maybe things really do happen for a reason." She whispered.

Karin ran as fast as she could, she then stopped short when Sasuke was in front of her.

"Karin stop." He walked over to her with shaken legs. She looked at him before looking down to the ground.

"No, it's alright, Sasuke you don't have to explain to me, I already know about you and Sakura's history and she told me she would confess to you so it's alright." She forced a smile on her face even though tears were falling down her cheeks. Sasuke wipes her tears.

"There is no Sakura and me." He told her softly. Her eyes widened in shock.

"But I saw-"

"That was just a kiss to close the chapter between us we are only friends and that's it. Besides we both know there was nothing in the kiss."

"Sasuke." She cried hugging his waist tightly. He hugged her back. She looked up at him. "I love you Sasuke."

"I love you Karin." He gently kissed her lips and hugged her tightly. Karin then gasped pushing away from him.

"Sasuke look!" She pointed at him. He looked at himself before shrugging.

"What?"

"You're standing and you ran after me." He looked down at his legs and stomped on the ground with each leg. He left a little pain but it was bearable. He jumped a bit off the ground and laughed.

"I'm so glad everyone gave me a second chance."

"I'm so glad you gave yourself a second chance." She smiled at him as he nodded his head before kissing her lips, he was starting to understand what true happiness felt like.