Chapter 03

It has been 3 days since Sakura came back from her mission in Hidden Sand Village, Wind Country. And it has been that long since she had presented her research to Tsunade and the medical people about her great discovery. It has also been that long since she was denied of any request for a mission. So with nothing else to do, she resumed her station as a doctor in the Konoha Hospital, making her daily rounds, working more than 12 hours a day, sometimes even longer when the need arises. As for the last three days, her only patient were a girl who had accidentally twisted her arm from playing, a boy who had a cold, and an old lady who had an asthma attack. The worst case was two ANBU who were admitted in bloody condition, a few broken ribs, dislocated joints, kunai inflicted wounds and punctured lungs.

After the presentation, she abruptly asked Tsunade for any mission. Tsunade, gave her a stern face and a solid no and that she has to stay in the village for any upcoming important mission. She didn't understand why she has to be on stand-by and was ready to argue but Tsunade won't have it. She left the Hokage office, fuming and cursing under her breath.

It's Sunday and it's her day-off and now she's bored. It's already 9 in the morning, she had awoken hours ago, but she decided to stay and roll on her bed. She's staring at her ceiling in a daze thinking that this is how Sundays should be; quiet, peaceful, serene and tranquil.

"Forehead!" someone screamed followed by the loud banging at the door.

Okay, NOT, she thought. She rolled her eyes in irritation as soon as she heard another banging on the door again. Just great, she forgot about her…Ino the pig!

She forgot to visit her after her mission from Suna. Well, she forgot about it, and she was occupied with a lot of things. Ino had asked her to buy an earring which was made from a specialize kind of quartz found only in the red sand of Suna. She bought them but it had slip from her mind to give it to Ino. Shit! She mumbles while digging her head more on the pillow

"Forehead! Answer me! I know you're in there!" called Ino again followed with her banging the door. Sakura growl and pulled up the blanket over her head as if that could mute Ino's screaming outside her apartment.

"Sakura! I swear to my neighbor's balls I'm gonna break this damn door if you don't open it this minute!" Ino screamed.

That's it, she throw the blankets and run towards the door. The hell she cares how she looks right now but she run towards the door and opened it. She wore her usual, white cotton shirt and white undies, hair disheveled on her head and dark circles on her eyes due to lack of sleep. The last thing she needs is for a frantic and crazy Ino breaking her door!

"Fuck you Pig, it's Sunday and I stayed till 2am in the hospital. Can't you let me rest in peace just for today?" she growled on her eyes squinted, looking at the blond-haired woman in front of her.

"Good morning to you too," she chirped making her way inside ignoring and without waiting for Sakura's invitation to come in. She didn't mind Sakura's disheveled appearance, nor her scandalous attire. She's used to it. Sakura closed the door while Ino found her way to her kitchen. Sakura lazily trudge to her bed again. She slumped back and crawls on her comforter, face down, lazily and closed her eyes.

Her apartment is just a plain apartment, without rooms, except for the bathroom. Everything is separated by dividers. From the door, you can actually see her bed on the left, hidden with netting around it, serving as the divider, which can be slide on and off just like how curtains work. Just across the door is her living area that consists of a couch, a glass center table, a lampshade on the left side, and the tv and the cabinet on the right. Behind it was the large ceiling to floor window that has a sliding glass panel that leads to the veranda. Further down to the right are the bathroom, and then the small kitchen that has a counter which separated it from the rest of the room.

Her bed is a king sized bed, she'd make sure of that. She just loved to roll on her fluffy bed. After all, it's one of those she considered a luxury, and resting and sleeping is her luxury, after tons of tiring missions and her shift from the hospital. Sleeping and bathing are two of her luxuries. She had many soft pillows and a two large bolster which she used to lift her tired legs and feet. Sometimes she just used to hug them at night. All of that covered in pastel colors of green while her soft comforter that covers the whole bed is of soft pastel pink.

"Just so you know Forehead, the gracious me came here to bring you breakfast," Ino barked as she came down from the kitchen towards the center table, bringing the food she had prepared from the kitchen "and to get the stuff I told you to," she said as she put it down the table.

Sakura growled and turn to her side to avoid the sunlight when Ino slide the red draperies open from her window together with the soft white see-through curtain beneath, light coming intensely and brightly, lighting the whole room.

"Pig" she murmured, eyes still closed.

"Get up, you need to eat this," Ino told her.

"Uhg, I need to sleep,"

"C'mon Forehead. I know you hadn't a decent meal since you came. And may I remind you neglecting to visit me at the shop since you came. Yes, I'm making you guilty! Now get up and eat this or I'll shove this on your throat. Tch. What would you do without me really?"

"What are you, my mother?" she said, finally sat up as sleep avoided her completely now. Yeah, there goes my Sunday.

Ino sheepishly grin, revealing a perfect set of white teeth. "No, I'm your grandma,"

Sakura roll her eyes as smile draw on her face. She throws a pillow to Ino which was caught by the latter. "How do you know what I eat?" she asked as she trudges towards the couch, looking on the food Ino brought her. She sat up, curling her legs up to the couch embracing them towards her chest. Her chin rested on her knees. It's an onigiri with different furikake, a karaage, a potato salad, a sausage cut like an octopus, cherry tomatoes and sweetened tamago.

"Who do you think I am?" Ino rolled her eyes.

"Heck, this is already a full bento for lunch Pig! Who says about breakfast again?" Sakura says as she started to pick the salad and eat, "You made this?"

"Yes,"

"Hell no!" she cough, "Yamanaka Ino made a full bento? The world just ended!" Sakura shrieked.

"Bitch," Ino scowled, "of course I'm joking! Mom made them! I just help her a bit," she said.

"Thanks Pig, I just can't find time to make these things. I'm practically living in the hospital's cafeteria for food. Not that it's a bad thing though, but home cooked meals are still the best," she said between munching, "thanked Auntie for me 'kay? I wish you inherited her genes when it comes to cooking though,"

"Shut up," Ino retorted.

"Yeah, and maybe Chouji can finally have a decent meal too," She teased. She knows that her best friend is going out with Chouji, "well, with that appetite of his, I guess he'll eat anything you serve him,"

"I'm learning from Kurenai-sensei. By the way, where's the earring I told you to buy?"

"Check the nightstand," she pointed the nightstand on her bed's right side, as she munches on the onigiri. Ino run towards it and found a small velvet box sitting on top of it. She opened it and squealed.

"Oh my gosh forehead, this is so beautiful," she said as she remove the pair and tried it on.

"I know, I had Temari helped me find it,"

"Thanks Forehead, you are so loved. By the way, have any plans today?"

"Nah, I plan to roll on my bed all day. I need to restore my chakra you know. Not until you barged here and ruined it,"

"You can do it, but come to Gin's BBQ later, around 5, rookie 9's gonna be there. Also with Neji's team. We're gonna have a bbq party. It's been so long since we did it and we kinda agreed to do a meet up again. Naruto just came back this early morning too,"

"Really?" her eyes gleamed with excitement. So, all of them are going to meet again. It's been so long since all of them are gathered together and it's a miracle that all are going to be present with all things getting busy now.

Everyone in the rookie 9 were now amazing Jounin's. Shikamaru and Neji were in ANBU.

"Yeah, so see you later okay? 5pm sharp at Gin's. I'm going to invite our other senseis, if they're available. Sai's gonna be there as well," Ino said as she made her way towards the door, "and forehead….?" Sakura looked at her, bewildered.

"Hm?" she hummed with the question on her eyes.

"You're undie is not so sexy, it's so plain and simple a guy won't get hard-on on that, so now you know my gift to you on your birthday," she winked then opened the door and hurriedly left her apartment laughing.

"Pig!" she shouted.

~SxS~

Later that night, Sakura went to Gin's and found out everyone was already there.

"Shikamaru! Why are we here! We should go to Ichiraku's! I want my Ramen, you hear me? I WANT MY RAMEN!"

"This is troublesome," Shikamaru muttered, as he brought his shot glass of sake on his lips.

Sakura just entered the place and she immediately found them because of the ruckus. No other than the loudest ninja of all, who else.

"Shut up Naruto! We managed to reserve this place so stay! You can have your ramen tomorrow but right now you need to shove a different food in your stomach! God knows you need it!" Ten-ten said, Sakura finally made her way towards them.

"T-That's right Naruto-kun. P-Please stay for a b-bit," Hinata stammers. She was beside Ten-Ten.

"If you say so Hinata-chan~" Naruto said as he blushes, which was reciprocated by Hinata with a meek smile and more blush on her face. Neji cleared his throat which alerted Hinata. The poor girl diverted his attention on her fingers which were now twiddling frantically because of nervousness. She almost forgot that Neji-nii-san was there!

Well, it's not a secret now that Naruto had his eye on the Hyuuga heiress. After that confession in front of Pain, and after the war, Naruto finally sees Hinata on a different level. He loves her. More than just an infatuation or admiration because of her strength to confess her true feelings towards him, but he finally realizes his feelings towards her too. But Naruto might face a more challenging fight than his previous battles, namely Hyuuga Hiashi and Hyuuga Neji. Man, they're more vigilant on guarding Hinata more than ever!

"Hey," Sakura approached them and greeted them. Everyone look at her and greeted her, the other's just give her a nod for acknowledgment.

"SAKURA-CHAAAANNN!" Naruto waved his hands on her and run towards her. She gave him a bear hug.

"Hi Naruto, haven't seen you for awhile, how are you?" she gave him a warm smile. Naruto lead her to one of the empty seats after saying his okay and as he kept on complaining about the restaurant's lacking of ramen in their menu and how asshole Shikamaru is for deceiving and dragging him today while he was on his way to Ichiraku's. She just giggled and greeted Ino, Hinata and Ten-Ten who was sitting beside Shikamaru, and Chouji. On the other side seated were Shino, Lee (who was blabbering about the springtime of youth by the way) Neji and Sai. Kiba was seating on the far end with Akamaru behind him. Sakura seated next to Kiba, while Naruto seated himself next to her. A barbeque was already sizzling on the table and Chouji was flipping them. After awhile, bottle upon bottle of sake came.

"Sakura-san, you are as beautiful as the flowers in spring. Seeing you already bring so much joy in my heart," Lee blabbers upon seeing her. Sakura gave him a smile.

"Hi Ugly," Sai greeted her as he passed by behind him, still with that annoying fake smile of his, "haven't seen you for a while,"

"Hi to you too, Sai. Getting busy just like always. You?" she said. She ignored the nickname and honestly, she was getting used to it by now. It's a waste to argue with Sai with all of his senseless naming on them.

"Same here," his eyes crinkled as he gave his usual smiles, "just arrived this morning too. Dickless and I were together in the mission,"

"Sai, you bastard," Naruto shouted, "how many times do I have to tell drop the naming already!"

"What? That you're a dickless?" Sai answered.

"Stupid Sai, are we going at it again?" Naruto shouted.

"I'm just telling facts. I've read once in a book about it. You should see a doctor immediately you know. You might not be able to reproduce and you might not satisfy the Hyuuga girl with it," Sai stated nonchalantly.

"Sai, you're an asshole. Everything you read is twisted like that mind of yours, first of all, I have a d-" Naruto shouted, Sakura punch him on his head, "-ouch! What's that for Sakura-chan!"

"Stupid, Naruto!" Sakura said.

Kiba cheered that Naruto should show how dickless he is. Hinata turned red as a beet. Neji cleared his throat as Ten-ten serving him his sake while whispering not to mind them. Ino feed Chouji with the cooked barbecue. Shino was busy talking to a bug on his finger. Lee was cheering that this is how the springtime of youth should be spend and how beautiful that friendship was. Shikamaru lied on the tatami floor as he mumbled how troublesome they were.

Sakura sighed and then smiled.

Some things didn't change after all.

"Drink up Forehead, and enjoy. We can only do this gathering once in a blue moon now,"

Indeed. With all things going crazy after the war, it's a miracle they could gather all together right now. She looked at her friends. Everyone seems to enjoy the moment. They're all laughing. Everyone is alive.

There's that tinge in her heart again. She shook her head to erase the feeling. Right now is all that matters and she's going to enjoy herself…with all of her friends.

Naruto is still the same loud-mouth guy she knew since Genin days. He was telling Kiba about his latest mission and that Sai was really the dickless one, pointing his pinky finger, telling him that's how big Sai's dick really was, which gained him a loud laugh from Kiba. He was laughing so hard, he was pounding the tatami and literally rolling on the floor. Both of them suddenly went stiff as two kunais were thrown just inches from their foot. Kiba stopped laughing and both looked on Sai, who was pretending to eat his barbecue. Naruto scowled on him and continue to whisper stories on Kiba, which was answered with a heartily laughed from him. Sakura giggled on his animated-telling stories to Kiba. If she were to be asked what had changed in him, he only grew out from his baby-faced feature, and grown up to be a very attractive man. He looks more like the Fourth now. But he's still the Naruto everyone knows, still the Naruto everyone loves, the same guy who gained everyone's acknowledgement.

She remembers something and asked Ino about it.

"Where are the senseis Ino?" Sakura asked.

"Well, Kurenai-sensei can't actually leave with her son you know," Kiba answered.

"And we have enough of an idiot to blabber about the springtime of youth already," Ino said as she glanced upon Lee's direction, "so we skipped with Gai-sensei. I haven't seen Kakashi-sensei either. He must be on a mission,"

Sakura nodded.

They had been drinking for awhile and Sakura already feels giddy, alcohol now sinking on her system. She love this feeling, as if she was finally free from being constricted from the world…the feeling of being able to let yourself go and fall. She keeps on laughing and just purely enjoying herself. Just then, an ANBU made its appearance in front of them.

"Sakura-sama, pardon with my disturbance. Hokage-sama asked for your presence in the hospital," he said. She didn't recognize the man; he was wearing a boar for the mask.

"What happened?" Neji asked.

"Two ANBU squads have been admitted in the hospital just now. They seemed to be ambushed on their way to Konoha," he said.

"I understand," Sakura said face became serious.

"Well, then. Please excuse me," the ANBU said and vanished. As soon as he was gone, Ino heaved a sigh.

"One of the things why I hate being a ninja, and a medic," she said sarcastically, " You can't even enjoy your day-off!"

"Its part of our job," Sakura said as she started to do a series of seals to flush out the alcohol in her body.

"S-Sakura-san, please let me do it," Hinata said and approached her side, "you need your chakra more in the hospital,"

"Thanks Hinata-chan," she said.

Then Hinata perform a series of seals, her hand glowed into a warm hue of green. She flushes out the alcohol from Sakura's body. As soon as it was done, Sakura bid them farewell and headed to the hospital immediately.

"Sakura-chan, I'll pick you up in the hospital later okay?" Naruto shouted.

"Sure," she answered.

~SxS~

She arrive in the hospital and rushed to the emergency room. Tsunade and Shizune were already there. There are three ANBU lying on the bed.

"Shishou," she called.

"Attend the other one Sakura," Tsunade said without looking at her. She was concentrating hard on the man she was attending. Sakura complied immediately, attending and assessing the other ANBU's wounds. She pumped warm green chakra on her hand and checks the man's vitals. She found out three broken ribs, ruptured internal organs and kunai wounds, as well as bone fractures. She has to heal and close the tissues on his internal organs first. Glad thing he was conscious. So she popped blood and chakra replenishing pills on his mouth, before continuing on repairing the tissues and cells on his damaged areas. At the same time, Shizune was healing the other ANBU member.

After dragging long hours of healing and repairing, their patients finally stabilize. Shizune transfer them in the recovery area.

"What happened to them, Shishou?" Sakura asked as she slumped herself in the nearby stool. Healing using chakra really drains and is making them tired.

"They're just on their way from the recon mission I assigned them. They're on their way back when they were ambushed," she said, "this became so complicated," she murmurs.

She didn't answer. It was a normal scenario for her since she worked in the hospital, that more than ever, there will be casualties during missions.

She glanced at her shishou, and she was in deep thoughts.

"Sakura, you can go home now. I'll get you when I have the right mission for you," Tsunade said as she swung the two-door open, "but for now, rest. It's getting late. You can come later in the hospital tomorrow afternoon," then she was gone behind the ER door.

Sakura sighed and stretched her legs. She pulled the band that tied her hair to a ponytail and massage her scalp. This was a tiring day.

She was on her way to the lobby, when she saw Naruto waiting for him already.

"Sorry to keep you waiting," she said.

"No worries, I just arrived 10 minutes ago. Shall we go?" he asked, as he put his two arms folded behind his head, leading the way out of the hospital.

"Yeah, wanna stay at my place for a nightcap?"

Naruto looked at her with a wide grin.

She had grown fond at Naruto over the years. It was made clear between them that they do love each other to no more than brothers and sisters. She was glad Naruto had finally grown out of her affection to her and instead realizes his feelings towards Hinata. And because of that, she was more comfortable with him to the point that he can stay overnight at her place now. And due to the missions they were taking, it seems they needed to talk and stay more with each other with their available time when both are in the village. Being a Jounin means, you can now take up solo missions, and getting less of a squad or team, only if it's consider an A to S rank. She can count on her fingers the last time they do a mission with her former team mates. Of course, Team 7 is still there, with Sai, Kakashi-sensei and Yamato-taicho. But it was different with Naruto. They respected each other, and they knew too well the comforts and pain with each other. Of course, she could go all comfort with Kakashi-sensei, but she knows too well that he's a pervert. And nope, she rather stays with Naruto. And just like those times, they will stay all night just talking all kinds of things and catching up with the times they missed.

When they arrived at her place, she took a quick shower while Naruto went to her kitchen. She came out of the bathroom on her PJ's and Naruto was now wearing his black t-shirt and his usual pants. She saw his jacket now hanging on the coat rack near the door. He handed out a shot glass to her. She drank it straight and winced as the prickling sensation on her throat passed by. She then gave the glass back to Naruto. Naruto do the same and put down the glass and the wine on the coffee table. Sakura crawled down to her bed, she was followed by Naruto. They lie together on their back side by side looking at the ceiling. They were at it for merely five minutes when she finally spoke.

"How was your mission?" she murmured.

"Still no lead," he said softly.

"Hmm," she mumbled, and then went silent for a while. He knows what she's talking about and why she invited him for a nightcap.

"Naruto, do you think it's time to-"

"No," he cut off. There was harshness on his voice. "I won't give up. He's still out there, I just know. As long as I'm alive, I'm gonna drag him half-dead if I have to just to get his ass back into the village, I'd do it," he said, then he shuffled to look at her, "Do you give up now Sakura-chan?"

She knows he was looking intently on her waiting for her answer.

"I don't know Naruto. I don't know anymore," she answered still looking at the ceiling, "I was beginning to think that he was just a dream, and I'm beginning to doubt myself if he really did exist, or was just an illusion I created for myself. But the more I do that, the more reality bites me. It's like I'm stuck somewhere and don't know what to believe anymore,"

"Don't doubt, and stay strong. There's still hope and I know we can find him. I can feel it,"

Sakura chuckled bitterly.

"You and your predictions," she started to laugh.

"That promise still stands you know. It's for life. And that's my way of a ninja,"

She turns to her side to look at him. Sleep finally comes to her.

"Yeah, and you're amazing Naruto. Way too amazing," she yawns.

"Sleep now Sakura-chan," he said as he pushes the comforter up to her arm. She snuggles up more to her pillow.

"Hm, don't drool on my pillows. I'll send you to Suna with my punch if you do," she said as she started to doze off and closed her eyes.

"Yeah, it's too early to visit Gaara now," he chuckles as he pecked a kiss on her cheeks, "Oyasumi,"

"Naruto," he softly whispers as the night finally lulled her to dreamland, "Arigato…."

TBC