Warning: I do not own Naruto or any affiliated characters.

Author's Note: Huge thanks to everyone who favorite/reviewed! It means a lot

CHAPTER 4

The next time Sakura saw Kakashi was for his infamous bell test with the newly-returned Naruto. She thought that she'd never forget the look on his face when she shattered the field with her fist and found him hiding under the earth – a look of utter surprise mixed in with, dare she say it, pride. Of her growth.

They continued to get close along with Naruto after that. Sakura was happy – she felt like her team had come back to her. The hole that was left by Sasuke's absence was still there, but after a while, she felt that maybe this would be enough. Kakashi and Naruto, then later Sai and Yamato, too.

But as Sakura sat on her hospital bed, she wondered if that really had been enough. Because if it had really, truly been enough, why did she care so much for Sasuke's life that she risked her own in the operation room? She knew, logically, that Sasuke wasn't someone she should be throwing away her life for. Friend or not, Sasuke had betrayed her and her friends – and he had betrayed Naruto. Naruto, the boy she loved like a brother. He had become such a big part of her life that she was sure that she wouldn't be able to survive if Akatsuki had their way with him. That only made her more determined to grow stronger and be a better medic. Anything to help protect Naruto. Even if it included giving up her search for Sasuke.

She realized then that she wanted, no, needed to see Naruto right now. To make sure that he was okay and to find out how the hell he found Sasuke and convinced him to return.

Sakura still felt weak, but she felt okay enough to walk – albeit slowly – to the front desk. The night nurse was there, and was startled to see Sakura up and about, but the pink haired kunoichi insisted on finding out what room Naruto was in. Since Sakura was the one who ran the hospital these days, the night nurse was in no position to deny her entry to Naruto's room, even though both Naruto and Sasuke's rooms were off-limits to visitors.

It was when she was in front of Naruto's room that Sakura realized that she had not asked what room Sasuke was in. She shook off the thought, figuring that she'll just find out later, and entered Naruto's room.

She had realized on her way to his room that he must be asleep. It was silly of her to expect him to be up at this hour, especially after his surgery, and she had resigned herself to getting her questions about Sasuke's return answered later. She just figured that she'd see Naruto anyway to make sure that the boy was really here and really okay.

To her great surprise, Naruto was actually awake when she entered his room.

"Sakura-chan?!"

She could see that he was in bad shape. He was bandaged everywhere, and seemed out of breath from merely getting up to greet her. But as always, he wore his trademark smile and beamed at Sakura as if nothing was wrong.

"Naruto…" she couldn't speak. She just approached his bed and hugged him as hard as she dared – which was not very hard at all, because she was so afraid of breaking him. She knew he was in pain, and didn't want to make it worse. To her surprise, he hugged her back very tightly. Just the gesture alone made her want to cry. Cry for her friend who had kept his promise to her even though she'd all but given up on it.

"Sakura-chan… what's wrong?" he asked her, confused at her sad face. His smile faltered and he looked at her concernedly. "Are you hurt? Why are you in a hospital gown?"

"Am I hurt?" Sakura repeated in disbelief. "Naruto, look at yourself. It's a fucking miracle you're even here right now."

"Yeah well," Naruto grinned sheepishly. "You know the teme. Wouldn't come without a fight." Then he cocked his head. "Wait, but haven't you been in Suna? When did you get back? I only left a week ago."

"I came back a few hours after you did," half dead, she added to herself. "Naruto, I swear to the First Kage, if you ever, ever scare me like that ever again, I'll freaking kill you myself." Sakura still hadn't left Naruto's arms. She put her head to his chest. She could hear his heartbeat. She liked it because it reminded her that Naruto was still here with her, still alive.

"I'm sorry for scaring you, Sakura-chan… I can't believe I let that punk beat me up like that. But hey, he's okay now, too, right? Tsunade-baachan left me a note saying that he's in the hospital, too. He's supposed to be heavily guarded or something, though." Naruto looked disgruntled. "After all that work, if he leaves again, I really will kill him this time!"

Sakura looked at her friend. "Explain. What even happened? How is he back?"

Sakura opened her eyes. It was morning. She was laying next to Naruto, whose one arm was under her neck while the other was draped across her waist. To an outsider, the two of them might have looked intimate – but Sakura had really just innocently fallen asleep next to Naruto after he had told her of the story of Sasuke's return.

It didn't really make sense to her – but then again, she knew that in the deepest part of her heart, his return would never make sense to anyone besides Naruto. She had always known that if and when Sasuke came back, it wouldn't be for anyone else besides Sasuke himself and Naruto. The two had a bond, an understanding that no one could penetrate – not even Sakura. All Naruto could really say was that he had run into Sasuke on the mission that he left for a week ago, and then the two had fought to the death – and at the brink of it, the two came to an understanding. Then they were found by the Konoha ANBU some time after the two had collapsed.

"Do you think he'll get in trouble? For having left, I mean." Naruto had asked Sakura after he had finished filling her in. "We know his brother was innocent all along now… that should count, right? That his brother gave everything to the village? The least we can do is forgive Sasuke for leaving…"

Sakura closed her eyes. "I don't know what the council is going to say. But I know Tsunade will make it alright… Sasuke was an angry, hurt kid, and she knew how manipulative Orochimaru was." She paused. "I'll go talk to Ibiki-san in the morning and see if there's anything I can do, too."

Naruto smiled and gave his friend's hand a grateful squeeze. Her words calmed him. He knew that even if Tsunade couldn't convince the council, Sakura could convince ANBU to make the council reconsider.

Sakura had become a vital part of Konoha in the past couple of years. Because Tsunade and Shizune were, of course, too busy running the village to run the hospital personally, Sakura had been named the director of the hospital at the age of seventeen. With the Akatsuki and Kabuto wreaking havoc all over the continent, injuries were more frequent than ever, and the hospital had been hectic for a few years now. However, Sakura not only managed to run it efficiently, but she also was able to heal almost anyone that came back from their missions injured. She had healed many ANBU members, and in general, probably every shinobi in Konoha either owed her for saving their lives or saving the lives of someone they loved. Everyone was fond of Sakura, and Naruto knew that Ibiki knew he owed the lives of his ANBU men to Sakura. There was no way Sasuke would be severely punished if Sakura got involved in pleading on his behalf.

Sometimes Naruto marveled at how much his friend had changed. He had always admired and cared for her, even back in their genin days when she pretty much despised him. But as they got to know each other during their brief time in Team 7, then later Team Kakashi, Naruto realized that he would do anything for Sakura. They had grown so close over the past few years that they considered themselves to be family. One of the reasons he was so hell bent on bringing Sasuke back was because he wanted to make Sakura smile again – smile the way she used to during her careless and free genin days in Team 7.

When he realized that she had come to see him before even going to Sasuke's room, Naruto felt a wave of emotion hit him. He was happy that she cared so much about him. That she wanted to make sure that he was alright first. But he was also afraid – afraid that she didn't care for Sasuke anymore. Afraid that things might never go back to the way it was, that Team 7 would never be whole again even with Sasuke back, because everyone had changed too much. Sakura choosing to see Naruto before Sasuke was proof of that.

Amidst all the talking, the two had fallen asleep. Now that Sakura was awake, she realized – rather late – that she had woken up not of her own accord, but because she felt someone else's presence in the room.

"Yo," came a familiar voice from the window, which was right next to Sakura. "I must say, Sakura-chan, I didn't you were the type to put out without at least a dinner first."

If she had a kunai anywhere nearby, she would've stabbed it into her teacher's eye with no remorse at that moment. "Do me a favor and don't picture me putting out under any circumstance, dinner or not." She glared at him.

"Hai, hai. I know you're not really sleeping with Naruto… at least not in that way, because you're probably ravishing Sai till all hours of the night, actually."

Now she really wished that she had a kunai handy. "Kakashi-sensei, if you don't shut up, I will personally make sure to give you no doses of morphine whenever you're back from a mission and bleeding on the floor of my hospital."

To her satisfaction, she saw her teacher's eyes turn weary. "Now, now, Sakura, you know I was just teasing. No need to take an old man so seriously." He pouted.

She sighed. He was impossible. Then she softened, remembering that he had come for her after Sasuke's operation. "How long was I out for?" She asked him. She had no idea how many days had passed since the day of the operation.

"About a day and a half, I suppose. Naruto and Sasuke arrived in Konoha right about two days ago. Speaking of which, kindly do not try to kill yourself in your own hospital. Leaders having to set good examples and all." Kakashi had been angry that Sakura used her chakra so dangerously, but he also knew that there had been no other way – she would never have put herself before saving Sasuke's life. He briefly wondered if Sakura still cared for Sasuke the way she had when she was twelve – she had been infatuated with him back then.

"You know I had no other way," Sakura's voice was quiet. "…have you seen him?"

Kakashi didn't have to ask who she was talking about. "No. No visitors allowed. I know he's woken up, though. And Tsunade's seen him, obviously. He didn't really say anything to her, other than that he won't try to run away, but she's placed some ANBU around his room, just in case. And I believe Ibiki will take him into interrogation as soon as he's recovered somewhat." He sighed. He wished that Sasuke would talk in the hospital room rather than the interrogation room at the ANBU headquarters, but Kakashi knew how stubborn Sasuke could be.

"I don't think he'll run again. Naruto thinks Sasuke will stay… and Naruto knows him the best." Sakura said, looking briefly at the peacefully sleeping Naruto.

Kakashi's question came very softly. "Will you go see him?"

Sakura didn't answer him immediately. Even if Sasuke wasn't allowed visitors, she knew she could get into his room if she wanted – she could have him listed as her patient, and of course, his doctor would have access to his room. But could she really face him after all this time?

"I should go talk to Tsunade and Ibiki first." She finally said. At this, Kakashi scrutinized her impassive face, but didn't say anything else.