It had been a week since that night. Sasuke couldn't get her of his mind. Her words stung him every time he remembered their little talk. He was having trouble sleeping these past few days. He didn't sleep for three days now and the fatigue was getting to him. He even started having illusions of the pink-haired kunoichi. He tried everything to help him fall asleep. He even tried the ridiculous 'sheep counting'. Still, he failed miserably. He lied in his bed with his eyes shut. Sasuke took a deep breath and tried to relax his mind. It seemed effective as he slowly drifted to sleep. To his dismay, his long-awaited rest was interrupted by a certain loud mouth banging on his front door.
"Oi, Teme! Are you there? Open the the door, you lazy ass!" the blonde continued assaulting the poor door.
Sasuke grunted. He got up with his teeth gritted with annoyance. 'He better have a good reason for disturbing me. That dobe is going to get it if he came here just to drag me to Ichiraku's.' he thought to himself before opening the door with force, hinting the blonde that he wasn't in the mood.
"What the hell do you want, dobe?" he asked through his gritted teeth. His temper was rising and he was having a hard time restraining himself from beating the crap out of Naruto.
Naruto gulped when he sensed the dangerous aura around Sasuke. His fear turned into concern when he took a good look at his best friend. His face was paler than usual, his eyes were puffy and red. It wasn't because of sharingan, it was because of the blood shots. Sasuke looked really tired.
"Well, are you going to just stand here all day and stare at my face like an idiot? You better have a good reason dobe, because I'm going to kick your sorry ass if you don't." Sasuke was clenching his fist now, his patience was running out by the second.
"Um, ehehe. I was just wondering if you want to hang out with me and the team." Naruto scratched his head.
"No." Sasuke slammed the door shut before Naruto could even complain.
"Aww, come on Teme! Don't be so anti-social, you asshole!" He heard Naruto yell from outside. He knew the blonde wouldn't give up so easily, but he figured that Naruto would leave sooner or later. He walked away from the front door and made his way to his room.
"Even Sakura-chan is going. I mean, she is always busy but she still made time for us." That definitely caught his attention, 'Sakura is going?' his heart jumped when he thought of her. He missed her. Not seeing that beautiful face of hers was a torture even after she clearly showed how much she hated him. He sighed and went to open the door again.
"When and where?" He asked the gaping blonde.
"You're going? What made you change your mind so quickly?" he quirked an eyebrow at Sasuke. Then, a big grin split across his face. "I know, it's because of Sakura-chan isn't it?"
"Hn." Sasuke looked away, hiding the blush that was creeping to his face.
Naruto burst out laughing at the sight of his usually brooding best friend blushing. "Man, you got it bad, huh? One minute you were ' I'm not going ' , and then when I mentioned Sakura-chan, you were so eager to go." He was laughing so hard that tears began to fall.
"Shut up, Dobe."
"Why don't you just tell Sakura-chan how you feel about her? I mean, when I told Hinata, she she said yes immediately and fainted. I'm sure if you tell Sakura-chan, she'll be very happy." He nudge Sasuke while giving him a knowing smile.
Sasuke rolled his eyes at this, 'If only it was that simple.' he thought to himself. He sighed and said "Lucky for you, Hinata already liked you from the very beginning. Even though I don't know how it's possible for a girl like her to like you, still she likes you and of course she'd say yes when you asked her out."
"So? Sakura-chan liked you since we were still genins. What's the difference?" The blonde asked, confused by his best friends statement.
"That was then. Now, she hates my guts." Sasuke clenched his fists from frustration.
"That's not true. It's impossible for her to hate you. Since you left, she hoped for nothing but for you to come back home." Naruto patted Sasuke's back, trying to encourage the raven haired shinobi.
"I don't know if it's because of your positive thinking or your stupidity that made you so blind to see hatred. She avoided me with every chance she got. She never speak to me unless she had to during missions. What do you call that? Love?" Sasuke can feel his temper rising again. Every time he remembered their talk during the mission, his heart ached. It made him feel like killing someone for no apparent reason.
"That, umm.. I don't know. Maybe she needs time Sasuke. She was hurt when you left. Maybe she was just angry."
"Time? I came back a year ago, Naruto. One fucking year isn't enough?" he was now half yelling. When he realized that people were staring, he lowered his voice. "Just face it, Naruto. She hates me and things will never be the same again no matter how hard you try."
"That's not true, Teme. Everything will work out some day. Everyone once told me I could never bring you back no matter how hard I try, now look who's here standing next to me. We'll figure this out, believe it!" Naruto gave him a thumbs up while grinning widely.
Sasuke smirked at his enthusiastic best friend. "Hn. What ever, Dobe."
"So, you're coming right?"
Sasuke just nodded. "You haven't answered my question, Dobe."
He sighed when Naruto gave him a puzzled look, obviously forgotten about the question.
"When and where?" he repeated.
"Oh, that question. It's at twelve. We decided to go some where else besides Ichiraku's because Sakura-chan said she won't come if it's at Ichiraku's. Kakashi-sensei suggested the new BBQ place just across the market."
"Hn. I'll be there." Sasuke said before slamming the door in Naruto face again.
"How dare you slam the door in the next Hokage's face, Teme!" he heard Naruto yell from outside.
Sasuke let his body fall onto the soft bed. He was trying to get some sleep but he failed. His mind was too crowded by the thoughts of Sakura.
'I should leave. If I keep this up, I'll go insane. At least if I'm far away from her I wouldn't think too much about her, I hope.' He rubbed his temples with his slim fingers to ease the pain in his head.
'But, what about Dobe? He was so happy when I agreed to come back with him. If I left he'll be devastated.' Sasuke got up and took a map inside his drawer.
'Hmm, Suna is only three days away from Konoha. If Dobe wants to come and visit, it wouldn't be too much trouble for him, right? Besides, I can still help to protect Konoha even though I'm far away because Konoha and Suna are allies.' He nodded at his decision.
'I'll talk to Tsunade after the gathering.' He sighed. 'Looks like this is going to be the last time I get to hang out with them.'
Sasuke entered the BBQ place and his ears was immediately assaulted by Naruto's loud voice. He was yelling "Oi Teme, here! I saved you a seat!" the only seat available was next to Sakura. Sasuke glared at the blonde for forcing him to sit next to Sakura. Naruto gave him a knowing smile and wiggled his eyebrows.
"Now that everyone is here, lets order shall we?" Kakashi finally stopped reading his perverted book and looked up.
"Order as much as you want, my treat." The silver haired man picked up the menu.
"No, I'll pay for it. I haven't treated you guys since I came back. So might as well do it now." Sasuke said without looking at the others. He pretended to focus on the menu when he felt her gaze on him.
"Very well, then." Kakashi nodded before going back to the menu.
"I don't care who's treat it is. As long as it's free." Naruto grinned cheekily.
Everyone at the table sweat dropped at the comment. They talked while waiting for the food.
"So Sasuke, how was your mission with Sakura last week?" Kakashi asked while he buried his face into the orange book again.
Sasuke felt Sakura tensed beside him. "Nothing much. The mission went smoothly and we didn't get badly injured. The target was already injured when we found him, so he couldn't defend himself properly."
"So nothing happened between you and Sakura-chan? I mean, you guys were alone that day." Naruto gave them a perverted smile.
That earned him a smack on the head courtesy of Sakura's right hand. "Shut up, you perverted idiot!"
"Ouch, that hurts. Sakura-chan, you're scarier than Baa-chan when you're angry." He said while pouting like a child.
"You deserved it, dick-less." Said the pale and emotionless former ROOT member.
"What did you call me? Why you little!" Naruto got up to grab Sai by the collar but was stopped by a fuming Sakura.
"Naruto, you better sit down and shut up before I punch you into oblivion!" her right hand was clenched into a fist, threatening to send the blonde flying across the village.
Naruto gulped. "Ye-yes, Sakura-chan."
After ten minutes of waiting, the food finally arrived at their table. Everything was going smoothly and everyone had a good time untill a girl showed up at their table and began to flirt with Sasuke shamelessly.
"Hey there, handsome. You're Sasuke Uchiha right?" she said wih a seductive voice.
"Hn." He wasn't even looking at the girl.
"You're so cool. My name is Hana. Mind if I join you?"
Sasuke was tempted to call her annoying and insult her in any way he could, but decided against it because he wanted to show Sakura that he changed and he knows how to treat a woman better.
"Hmm, I'd love that but as you can see, there's no seat left." He gave her a small insincere smile.
"Aww, you look so hot when you smile. Anyways, I could just sit on your lap if you let me." She was now caressing his face.
'What the hell is wrong with this slut? Can't she see that there are other people here too? And what's with Sasuke? Usually he would insult girls like her by now.' Sakura thought to herself. She didn't realize that she was staring at the two until it was too late. Sasuke caught her staring at them with anger in her eyes. She quickly looked away, pretending to talk to Naruto.
"I'm afraid that wouldn't be appropriate." Sasuke said through his gritted teeth but still smiling at the time. The slut was busy flirting that she couldn't see the murderous aura around Sasuke.
"Who cares what those people think? Please?" She pouted.
Sasuke could feel his temper rising and his patience slowly evaporating. He was restraining himself from giving the girl third degree burns using his katon.
He took out a large amount of money from his wallet and gave it to Hana. "Here, go buy yourself something pretty. A girl like you deserve something as beautiful as you." He wanted to barf at his own statement, but he hold it in.
"Thank you, Sasuke-kun. You're so sweet. After I'm done shopping, I'll give you a private fashion show." She kissed his cheek before walking away.
Sasuke sighed in relief. He could feel the headache coming back. When he thought it was over, Naruto chirped in "Wow, Teme. I never thought you had it in you. I thought for sure you were going to kill her the minute she started flirting. You even got a private fashion show later. Mind if I join?" he gave Sasuke a disturbing smile.
"Shut up, Dobe."
Meanwhile, Sakura was having a battle with inner Sakura.
'I'm glad she's gone. I'm not sure how much I could take anymore.'
'What's wrong, Sakura? You're not jealous of the slut, are you?' Said inner Sakura.
'No way in hell. Why would I be jealous? Just because Sasuke decided to flirt back, doesn't mean that I would be jealous. Who cares about Sasuke anyways? I don't like him anymore remember?'
'Yeah, keep telling yourself that and you'll get somewhere.'
'What was that supposed to mean? I don't like him anymore!'
'Maybe, but you still love him.'
'No, I don't!' Sakura retorted.
'What ever, Sakura.'
Her thoughts were interrupted when Naruto yelled in her right ear "Sakura-chan, are you alright?"
"Huh? What? Oh, I was just thinking. Don't worry about me. Lets go back to eating, alright?"
"If you say so Sakura-chan." Naruto went back to eating.
"I've got to go. I'll pay on my way out." Sasuke stood up and walked towards the counter.
"Where are you going, Teme? Can't wait for Hana's private show for you?" Naruto gave him a teasing smile.
"I have something to discuss with Tsunade-sama."
"What would that be?"
"None of your business, Dobe." He walked away before Naruto could even say anything.
Sasuke knocked on the Hokage's office door and waited for her permission for him to enter.
"Come in." he heard Tsunade's short answer from the other side of the door.
He entered the office and bowed politely at the blonde woman.
"How may I help you, Uchiha?"
"I'm here to ask for your permission to transfer to Suna."
"May I ask for a reason? Is Konoha not up to your standards?" Her eyes narrowed dangerously.
"It has nothing to do with me wanting to transfer to Suna. I decided to transfer because of Sakura." He said calmly.
"What does my pupil have to do with this issue, exactly?"
"She hates me and she had been avoiding me since I came back."
"So you decided to transfer to Suna because you are sulking with Sakura?" She almost burst out laughing but she managed to hold it in and keep a straight face.
"No. I'm doing this for her sake. I could see the discomfort she was in whenever I'm around. I could also save her from all the trouble she went through just to avoid me. You wouldn't want Konoha's best medic distracted from her job would you, Hokage–sama?"
Tsunade thought for a second and said, "Very well, then. I shall give you a letter of permission so you wouldn't be considered as a rouge ninja."
"I would really appreciate it if you could recommend me to Kazekage-sama so that verything could go smoothly when I arrive at Suna."
"Sure, but it'll take some time to deal with. At least a month. So in the mean time, you're still under Konoha's orders and I expect you to be on your best behavior so that the Kazekage would be pleased to have you under his wings, understood?" Tsunade said firmly.
"Yes, Tsunade-sama. Thank you for your help. I'll be waiting for the answer."
"If there's nothing more you want to add, you may go now. I've got to get started on the paper works for your transfer to Suna." Tsunade said while rubbing her temples.
Sasuke bowed and left. Tsunade sighed. "Congratulations, Sakura. You just contributed a pile of paper works for me to do." She drank a whole bottle of sake before getting to work.
A/N: Hey you guys! It's me again~ I made this chapter longer because I don't think I can update a new chapter next week. School and stuff. don't worry tho.. I'll update as soon as I can. maybe on the weekends. Hope you enjoy this extra long chapter! Bye~ keep reviewing!