Sakura's footsteps echoed uncomfortably in her ears as she made her way back to the room that held Naruto and Sasuke. With each step forward, she felt the weight of her new knowledge impeding her speed, causing each step to be painfully drawn out and awkward to any who watched her from a distance. Luckily for her the staff were far too busy catering to multiple patients across many rooms and floors to pay very much attention to her, preventing any questioning. The war's conclusion still had plenty of wounded that needed care, but she would have gladly trade that level of stress for what she endured now. With eyes focused to the floor beneath her feet, the kunoichi was beginning to count the number of steps it would take her to reach the room at her current pace.

"Tell the truth." Sakura whispered to herself, wishing it was more of a command than a choice. In the handful of minutes she had been alone, the scenarios were running rampant in her head without rest. Kakashi-sensei offered her a way out, yet the cost meant his own punishment, something he was more than willing to take. Alternatively, go through with the mission: keep Sasuke here with questionable means for an otherwise selfish motive. Her feelings were consulted, but only because she needed to know the truth for herself. Something had changed the day Naruto and Sasuke had concluded their battle. No one else had known what Sasuke had subjected her to, what final image he had given her before he went and tried to do the unthinkable.

Her feelings had been meaningless. All this time she had hoped that a shred of affection and care for her wishes had been locked away in his heart. She remembered how desperate she had become in the face of him and just how desperately she wanted him to return. Painfully she remembered just how easily she was tossed aside time and time again. It didn't matter how many times she played her memories back, because the result had never been different. Sasuke wasn't the boy she crushed on in her younger academy days. Having become so complex and experiencing more than she had ever tried to comprehend, it left her wondering if there was ever hope for her as his lover. She was prepared to move forward with him now, but she was struggling to find a sliver of hope for herself the more her mind traveled to the very recent past.

"Hey, you're going to share some of those, right?" A male voice asked from a nearby room – the room Sakura happened to be moving to.

"Of course I am, idiot. Don't you see me offering Sasuke?" Retorted a feminine voice, notably more feisty than the male counterpart.

"Only Sasuke. Jugo and I need to eat, too!"

"Well when he comes back with food, you can eat!"

Sakura returned her focus to the present and set aside her memories of the past. She had at last found herself outside of Naruto and Sasuke's room, but the dread of being face to face with them without coming to a decision was halted in favor of satisfying her curiosity. She had reached for the handle of the door – already slightly parted – and squeezed it tightly before deciding instead to just peer through the small window.

From what could be seen, it appeared a couple of Sasuke's friends were in some sort of dispute. She had been briefly introduced to them before: Suigetsu, a white-haired and purple-eyed swordsman who was born in Kirigakure, accompanied by Karin who was red-haired and red-eyed. The tall and slightly intimidating one named Jugo was missing. Lastly, Sasuke Uchiha was tucked in a hospital bed sitting and observing his comrades with an expression Sakura could only call satisfactory. This was his team, 'Taka' he had called them. A team he had chosen to help him on his journey shortly after parting ways with Orochimaru some time ago. They were very adamant on staying close to him. Having never been able to see Sasuke without her in the vicinity, the interest in how he handled this situation was active and something she wanted to satisfy. Anything to buy time.

Suigetsu placed an idle hand on his stomach and looked to the small gathering of apples, oranges and bananas sitting in a basket on the desk besides Sasuke's bed. While he stood beside the window in the far side of the room, it was Karin who was beside Sasuke, seated with a small knife in hand. While she was at work carving up apples, Suigetsu had been waiting for the inevitable offer for some fruit. Somehow he had managed to forget just who he was dealing with, and judging from the ignorance Karin chose to feign, it seemed she was more than willing to drag it out.

"Jugo could be lost, so why not toss something my way in the meantime? Not like Sasuke's going to eat all of that." Suigetsu grumbled, gesturing the hand that wasn't on his stomach towards himself.

"Sasuke eats first. When it comes to who gets fed among us, you're at the bottom of the list." Karin responded coolly, delicately carving up the skin surrounding a bright red apple. "You basically survive on nothing but water to begin with. You can wait!"

"A fair point—wait, bottom of the list?"

"The bottom of the list." Karin repeated. Having completed skinning the apple in hand, she held it up to examine it closely. After a quick and careful scan to make absolutely certain no trace amounts of the red skin remained, Karin smiled and held it out for Sasuke. "Here, Sasuke! If you don't like it, I can always get something else for you." She fought against her smile, but couldn't maintain the façade. If she were being honest with herself, feeding Sasuke was always a small, innocent fantasy of hers. He'd be hesitant about it at first, but there was always a small chance he'd let her do it one day. A spoonful of something delicious, or a bite out of something sweet – other than herself, of course.

Sasuke had remained silent as the banter between his two comrades took place, but when the focus had returned to him he had held up his right hand – his only hand, now – and refused the offering in silence. Karin wasn't the least bit surprised, but she silently credited herself for trying. Disappointed as she was, the words that left Sasuke next had served as a powerful pick-me-up for her.

"Thank you Karin, but I'd like to wait for Jugo to come back before we get started." The Uchiha voiced his preference and did so without ill intent. Karin's gesture was appreciated, but unnecessary. Waiting for Jugo was both a kindness and a necessity for what would come next with Taka. "Suigetsu, you can eat if you'd like."

"Nah, forget it," Suigetsu shrugged his shoulders and then crossed his arms, becoming much more reluctant, "I'm sure Jugo wouldn't mind, but if you're going to keep playing it cool like this then I don't think I can hold anything down with that expression on Karin's face."

Karin, who was still incredibly warm from Sasuke's appreciation, had cupped her face with her free hand. Cheeks slightly reddened as she repeated his gratitude in her head again and again, she had only ceased her subtle squirming in her seat once Suigetsu had opened his mouth. Adjusting her glasses, the response was swift and much like the Karin that Suigetsu loved to screw with.

"Wh-what the hell are you talking about you dumbass!? What expression!?"

"You know the one," the Hozuki swordsman gestured towards her with a pointed finger, expression turning cocky, "that is, the one expression you always seem to have around him. Thankfully your tongue is inside your mouth this ti—"

The dangerously-close rambling about certain details better left unsaid was abruptly ended by a sudden blow to the mouth, not by fist, but by a recently peeled apple. Karin had one hell of a throwing arm, and apparently her aim wasn't too bad either – Suigetsu's mouth was now occupied by said peeled apple, lodged in deeply thanks to his sharp teeth.

"I don't know what the hell you think you're babbling about, but keep quiet so he can relax a little damn it!" Karin growled, crossing her arms and spinning around in her seat with her back now to both boys. Brow twitching with irritation, Suigetsu's role in remaining here had yet to show any purpose besides getting in her way of caring for Sasuke. "Why don't you go find Jugo or something!?"

Chewing the apple whole, Suigetsu paused before swallowing. He'd hand it to Karin, she knew how to skin an apple.

"So when I leave you'll lock the door again? You remember what happened last time, right?" He looked to the weapon on his back, having recovered it after a couple painful hours of scouring several separate battlefields in the war's aftermath. The Executioner's Blade was fully formed, and he looked at it with pride, having vowed never to lose it again. "I don't think the staff would appreciate me slicing up a door," his gaze returned to Karin's back, "and where the hell did you get a fruit basket anyway? You never left the building to even buy one."

"That's not important! Besides, at least Jugo and I are doing something!" Karin cocked her head back at Suigetsu, aggravation in her eyes, "What have you been doing this whole time?"

"…I've been protecting Sasuke, of course."

"From who?"

"Well, there's this girl, you see. She's got red hair, a distasteful attitude, and doesn't look half as good as a certain blonde I saw walking around—"

From this point onward, Sakura's ears could no longer pick up the conversation between Sasuke's friends. Instead, the muffled yelps of the swordsman were conflicting with the obscenities that the redhead, Karin, was shouting at him. As Suigetsu toppled over and felt the full wrath of Karin's fists, Sakura's eyes rested on Sasuke again, half-expecting some sort of complaint or irritation in response to the sudden act of open violence. What she was witnessing was the opposite.

It was difficult to perceive Sasuke's true feelings, yet for once in her life Sakura had cause to believe in his smile. He was a man that had once called her annoying, yet that Sasuke seemed well and truly dead. It was a faint smile, but it was there. Once his head had begun to turn towards the door, Sakura had moved away from the window and pressed her back against the wall just beside it.

"He's happy now." she had no right to assume what made Sasuke happy, but what she had witnessed inside showed her that he was different now. Rage no longer favored him, only a desire for peace and company he valued. Telling him what she knew now, what was demanded of her, would only serve to stunt his recovery and destroy that happiness. Sasuke deserved to be happy after everything the world had taken from him. If she told him what was really going on, he may never find peace. Yet it wasn't like a lie served better when there were people that still didn't trust him. Her mind was a battleground and no matter what she chose, each decision felt criminal in its cruelty. Within her heart, all she wanted was to be able to make both Naruto and Sasuke happy again.

She couldn't decide like this, not with that smile in her head.

"Sakura." A voice from someone approaching her had took her attention. Jugo, cloaked and with bags in hand, had come to approach the kunoichi who was staring forward blankly just beside his destination. "Is something wrong?"

Sakura followed the voice, eyes meeting with Jugo's. Probably the most silent and mysterious of Sasuke's company, she hadn't managed to find out much about Jugo as he and the others stayed with Sasuke. From what she had been able to tell so far, he was as loyal as the rest of his comrades. There was little more she could surmise, but what had stood out to her most was how he stared out the window from time to time, appearing happy just examining birds flying by.

"Oh, no, it's nothing." She glanced back towards the doorway, still hearing the sounds of Karin and Suigetsu arguing within. "I … couldn't help but notice that Naruto was gone. His bed was empty. Did something happen while I was gone?"

"He moved into the next room for now. There were too many visitors for one room, so he volunteered to move for the time being."

"I see …so, just down there, right?"

Jugo nodded and stepped past Sakura, hand gripping the knob Sakura had released moments earlier. Realizing how inconsiderate he must have appeared, he froze and looked to Sakura once again.

"Did you want to come inside for a minute?" the gentle giant offered.

"Maybe later. I should see Naruto. Thank you." Sakura bowed her head respectfully.

Jugo let out a small hum of acknowledgment before stepping inside, this time shutting the door behind him. Sakura was left to approach the room just beside that one, taking several short strides outside the door. Although closed, she could hear voices on the other side, but this time wouldn't bother just peeking inside. If there was one person that could offer her some idea of what she should do, it would be Naruto himself. What she knew would affect him, too.

With a deep breath and Sasuke's smile still something to look back at fondly, Sakura would open the door and step inside.

"About time, Jugo. You get lost or something?" Suigetsu mumbled, body liquefied as a puddle in the ground while Karin wiped off her hands with a cloth by the desk. Putting himself back together, Suigetsu moved to retrieve the bento box that was handed to him, while Karin had taken one for both Sasuke and herself, as if Karin's assault had never even occurred.

"He's here again, that's all that matters." Sasuke would take his bento in hand, not voicing a complaint when Karin opened it and broke his chopsticks for him. Muttering a quiet thanks in appreciation, he looked from Karin, to Jugo, and to Suigetsu in silence. Suigetsu was the first to dig in and eat with haste, the apple clearly not enough to steady his appetite. Jugo was much more moderate in eating, coming to rest just beside Karin. She was eating even slower than Jugo, only because her eyes were on him. There was no greater motive to watching him – there was an opportunity here to offer to feed him personally, but his eyes were different. It had taken a little more silence between them before Jugo and Suigetsu had noticed that Sasuke was putting something together in his mind. Jugo was the one to speak out first.

"Is something wrong, Sasuke?" He peered at the untouched meal and the idle chopsticks; he was certain this was the small lunch Sasuke had wanted, and was certain that it wasn't the meal that held him back.

Suigetsu munched quietly. When he looked to Karin, the mood was quite different from before. What he expected was some silent expression of admiration and lust. Instead she was focused on him with a little more intensity than that; she waited for his word, which was something he mentioned prior to Jugo running out to get some lunch. Hospital food didn't sit well with him anyway.

"So, let's get to it then." Suigetsu muttered before placing more rice in his mouth, "What was it you needed to talk about?"

Sasuke set his chopsticks down, appetite not pressing him nearly as much as Suigetsu's had. He was content recovering the last few days while they all remained themselves in his presence. Part of him was happy about this, but after everything they had been through together Sasuke was questioning just how far they'd go. If they've come this far, they had the opportunity to pursue other areas in their life, but so far they had been standing by him here. No expression of gratitude, either vocal or physical, would be enough.

"I've got a lot to atone for," Sasuke finally said quietly, "and I want it to start with you three …with Taka."

"Thank you, and come again!" Ino bid farewell to a middle-aged woman tailed by her young daughter, both carrying pots; the middle-aged woman held lilacs, and the daughter held lily's. An explanation of their meaning was offered to both, as was customary of Ino given her knowledge of flora. Youthful innocence and confidence was held with the lilacs, and the lily was first and foremost representing purity. Not only did her customers leave with a beautiful set of plants, but they learned a little more about what they signify as well.

With a successful sale and the satisfaction of pleasing her customers, the blonde would pick up a nearby cup of coffee that was set aside five minutes prior to her sale. Gently trying to cool it down with a soft burst of air between her lips, she would take a smooth sip from it and savored both the taste and the warmth it brought her. Sighing from the pleasurable sensation, her eyes would wander off to the other side of the counter where Sakura examined a set of orchids, taking in the scent of them. "Okay, where was I?"

Sakura looked over her shoulder, lips pursed. "My coat."

"Oh," Ino remembered her earlier mention of Sakura's coat, representing her role as a staff member of the hospital, "right, why are you wearing that again? Weekend off, remember?"

"It's become a habit."

"Well, it's a bad one!" Ino took another sip of coffee and exhaled in relief, her early-morning spirits being rejuvenated. Sakura had worn the coat yesterday too, but it had been excusable then. "Sakura, I know your work is important, but—"

"But I need to learn when to take a break and enjoy myself – you've mentioned that a lot, I know." Sakura raised a cup of coffee that was idle in her own hand, blowing on the heated drink before taking her own sip. Feeling invigorated with each gulp, Sakura approached Ino on the other side of the counter and set the cup down. "I'm …trying to take it a little easier, but it's just not easy."

"Trying is good, keep trying, because I'll keep bugging you until I see some results." Ino set her cup down and folded her arms, leaning against the counter. "So…"

"…So…?" Sakura mocked, confused.

"How did you hit it off with Naruto yesterday? I mean, after I let you go, after you blew Tenten and I off, I figured that it would have been worth it. What happened?"

Ino smiled, expecting some juicy details to emerge. Despite the closeness that Naruto and Sakura now lacked, she believed that their friendship would pick back up like it was only yesterday that they talked. With what Sakura had discovered just yesterday, the shop owner was expecting some seriously good conversation in regards to the 'truth' of Sakura's greatest memory of her husband.

"I helped him clean his office, and we talked both during and afterward. It was almost like nothing was different," Sakura narrowed her eyes, "and that's all that happened. No big scoop there."

"He walked you home."

Sakura blinked, startled, "How did you—"

"Sakura, come on, you know me. Something as big as Naruto walking you home isn't going to just be ignored." Ino closed her eyes and laughed quietly. "From what I was told, you were giggling like you were a kid again. Were you really going to keep that from me? I have my ways of finding things out, you know."

"…It's not a big deal, we were having a little fun. No one should be talking about something so trivial!" Sakura huffed, but was incapable of masking the growing redness of her cheeks. "Anyway, I said I'd come back today."

"Then what are you doing here?" Ino eyes opened, amusement turning to curiosity. If such a good time was to be had with Naruto, even if Sakura was reluctant to talk about how much fun she had, then staying here only meant one thing: "You're stalling, aren't you?"

"Wh-why would I stall?"

"I don't know why, but I do know that you had a good time and now you're reluctant to go back. So, talk to me." The Yamanaka's head tilted and her stare was directed at Sakura's eyes. The intensity was so deep that she almost felt that Ino was looking directly into her soul.

No sense in trying to dodge the subject, not when Ino was figuring it out with ease.

"All right, fine …I feel bad, for not keeping up with him like I should have been." Sakura broke into the details of her avoidance carefully, hoping Ino wouldn't press her too hard for the hidden truth. "I did have a great time with him, and even though he had every reason to hold my absence against me …he didn't. Naruto was glad I was with him again, and it was like …it was like I was never gone in his life." Sakura frowned. "Does that make sense?"

"Yep," Ino said curtly, "it makes sense. You feel bad, but listen to what you said: He didn't hold it against you, he's glad you're back again and all he wants to do is experience more of that again, just like you. Naruto may be the Hokage, but he's still someone important to you, and I think—no, I know for a fact that he still values you after all this time. After everything you two have been through, do you really think he'd hold a grudge because you decided to do nothing but work?" Ino noticed Sakura's expression warp to one of self-discovery. It almost appeared as though she never thought of that before. She grinned. "So while you're here with me thinking of all the reasons why you should feel so bad you don't go see him, he's probably looking forward to it again. Do you really want to let him down?"

"I don't want to let anyone down, but—"

"Go."

"I can't just-"

"Yes you can. So go."

"He's working!"

"It's called multitasking. Go."

Sakura opened her mouth, but her lips parted faster than any valid excuse could come to mind. With Naruto's abilities, multitasking was possible. As well as that, but she had nothing more to do. Sarada remained at her grandparent's house until tomorrow evening, she had already made the arrangement for her time off from the hospital, and her ammunition for avoiding Naruto again was ultimately dry. She had awoken early feeling warm as well as content with the days coming events. As unusual as it was for her, Sakura anticipated seeing Naruto after yesterday's fruitful conversation. Ino had been right so far, and if she walked away now she may never be able to face him again, not after telling him to his face she'd see him again so soon.

No further excuses to offer, Sakura took several gulps of her coffee until the cup in hand was completely drained. Setting it down gently, Sakura had quietly avoided Ino's eyes for several seconds until at last they had met again.

"You're right, it would be cruel if I didn't. But, what if he—"

"NO BUTS!" Ino shot up from her leaning position and stretched to place both hands on Sakura's shoulders, firmly locking her in place before lightly shaking her. "I finally get you to take some time off from work and spend time with me, but instead I end up changing everything you thought you knew about someone special to you. I felt guilty at first, but after I heard about how good a time you had with Naruto I knew that things were going to work out for you. If you want to hold on to the past then fine, but Naruto is ready to tackle the here and now, right?" Of course she was right, Sakura wasn't left to answer such an easy question. "You're friends, and whether you doubt that or not, he clearly doesn't!"

Ino had left her friend in shambles, beginning to doubt her own view of Naruto. In her mind she had always imagined him being livid at her, forcing her to question her own reason for seeing him after so much time spent apart. For what little Ino understood as to why Sakura had done it, all her effort was placed into repairing it. Her breath was caught in her throat as she recalled his smile yesterday, and with how natural they had spoken with one another it was becoming clear to Sakura that perhaps her anxiety was misplaced. Naruto wasn't angry, she was only trying to find some excuse to not face him again.

She knew why this was, and it was a matter in the past that was haunting her to this very day.

She would take that secret to her grave, allowing her life to have a turning point she should have begun long ago.

"Darn you," Sakura smiled weakly, "I can't win. You've got me, so I don't have a choice anymore, do I?"

Ino returned her smile, releasing her shoulders once she was certain that Sakura had finally understood what today could mean to her. After so long being reclusive, as well as working and maintaining a lifeless routine, seeing Naruto again could have the positive affect she was hoping for.

"You never did, Sakura. So, start blooming already …you've wilted long enough."

Early mornings sucked.

No matter how old he got, Shikamaru never could enjoy a morning where he wasn't sleeping in. This job of his had some good benefits: The satisfaction of aiding one of the most powerful men in the world was present, but at the cost of his hobbies which include doing anything that was working hard. As he made his way to the Hokage's place of work, he looked up to the clouds in the morning sky and had begun to rewind the clock in his mind. An hour ago he was beside his wife and snoozing peacefully, wrapped in her warmth and the sound of her breathing. Fifty nine minutes ago he was disturbed by the buzzing of his alarm and had to exit his sanctuary where 'work' was just a thought, and not the reality it was now.

He yawned loudly and shook his head, still feeling the tingling sensation of his wife's lips against his own after his departure. His son, Shikadai, did not know how good he had it. Weekends still meant something for children, but when you were a man like him it was nothing more than overtime. It wasn't how he expected his life would go.

"Oh well… we all have to grow up some day…" he would say sleepily under his breath. Another morning of reflection, and another morning wishing he was still in bed.

When he arrived in the building, Shikamaru had taken notice of something that didn't belong: Outside of Naruto's office was a carpet, black in color with small orange letters that had read 'Please wipe your feet-ttebayo!' on them. Two things had come to mind upon reading this. First: Since when had Naruto been all about wiping feet in an already messy office? Second: How did he get someone to put this together so quickly? Or …could it be that he already planned someone to put this together?

"That's …new." The Nara muttered quietly. Making the tough, tough decision to not in fact wipe his feet before entering, a couple knocks had been placed against the door before Shikamaru had entered, being met with the overwhelming scent of air freshener.

Before his eyes was Naruto, about five of him to be precise, completing various activities that involved cleaning throughout the office, with the sixth and presumably the real one sitting at his desk typing away furiously. The bookcase was being tended to by two of him, repeatedly adjusting the bookcase and making certain that the books were perfectly straightened. Aside from them, another was constantly sweeping the floor with a broom that had appeared recently purchased. The four Naruto was hovering beside the real Naruto's desk, examining its surface at eye-level. Once he was certain he saw a speck of dust on it, he had quickly rubbed it down with a rag before resuming his intense watch. As for the fifth, he was quickly spraying all the windows behind the real one, and rubbing them down with vigor—to his credit, Shikamaru could almost see his reflection from the door.

The real Naruto at work had looked up from his laptop, his focus shifting into a new, friendlier gear. "Hey, Shikamaru! Don't worry, I'm already hard at work. Did you like my carpet? I just got it made!"

"…What is this?" Shikamaru was in disbelief, although his face didn't show it. A clean desk with a refreshing fragrance, including a Naruto working harder than he had ever seen. "Did Shizune say something to you?"

"Eh?" Naruto crossed his arms and looked to the ceiling inquisitively, "Well, no, I haven't seen her for a few days. She's been filling in for Sakura-chan, so it's just been me so far today!"

"Okay, but that …doesn't explain what's happening here." Shikamaru's eyes had narrowed, once again scanning the room at the spectacle before him.

"Oh, this. I said I'd keep my office clean from now on, Sakura-chan was really ecstatic about it, we cleaned it together yesterday!" Naruto beamed as he returned to his work, "She said she was coming back today, so I thought I'd surprise her by showing her just how clean I can keep the place." Naruto's response was one full of pride and confidence, so much that Shikamaru almost couldn't tell him he might have been overdoing it.

"Don't you think you're overdoing it a little?"

Almost.

The Hokage was left to wonder what exactly Shikamaru meant by that. Glancing down to his desk, not a spot was to be found, and it was completely cleared of any miscellaneous items. Glancing behind him, the windows were cleaner than they'd ever been. Facing forward once more, he noted that the books along the bookcase were still in order, and were now being dusted. That left the clone that swept, and if Naruto knew himself, then Naruto knew that there wasn't a speck of dirt to be found. "…I don't see what you mean, Shikamaru. Did you hate the carpet idea?"

"It's not the carpet, Naruto, it's just that—"

Three knocks to the wall beside the door, and a pink-haired woman both familiar and beautiful as always stepped in. "Sorry, am I interrupting?" she would ask. Like Shikamaru, Sakura was taking in the sight of multiple Naruto's with various means of cleaning going to work, but all had frozen once they had registered Sakura by voice and by physical form.

Naruto's face had lit up like one wouldn't believe. Naruto stood up, and his clones had stood a little straighter than before, but all were smiling with childlike excitement.

"Not at all, good morning!" Naruto and the clones responded in unison, bringing Sakura to appear pleased before confusion had returned.

"So …I see you took what I said very literally."

"Of course, I made a promise to you." Naruto stepped around his desk. With his clones completing their tasks, they had all hurriedly stepped out of the room to return the various cleaning supplies taken from the utility closet. Left with both Sakura and Shikamaru alone again, Naruto extended his arms and invited Sakura to observe the environment. "As you know, I keep my promises, so I'm going to keep it clean for us." Left with a question, Naruto clapped his hands together, "And what did you think about the carpet?"

"It was …uh …" Reading his face, Sakura looked to Shikamaru for assistance, but the advisor had none. Truth be told, he appeared a little entertained, especially since he wasn't the one Naruto was trying to impress. Her eyes returned on Naruto, laughing a little in discomfort with the validity of Naruto's efforts riding on her word alone. "It's charming …but I think you might have overdone it a little."

Naruto hung his head in defeat, but Sakura was quick to offer more praise, "It beats the smell of stale cup ramen and it's never looked so good. It's all thanks to you that the place looks as good as it does now, so cheer up." Sakura leaned her body back, eyes closing and cheeks tightening with some expression of superiority. Her word meant something here, it would only be a lie if she said that it didn't feel good to make him happy. "And I think the carpet was a great idea, but how about we revisit its use at a later time? This new, cleaner Naruto might intimidate people. You want to make them comfortable in your office, not tense, right?"

His head shot back up quickly, having considered her words with haste. Perhaps the fear of treading a little dirt in his office might cause some sort of panic, and because Sakura had some experience maintaining an office of her own, her opinion held even more value. Nodding twice, Naruto was in complete agreement. "Good idea, yeah, I'll take it easy!"

Shikamaru could tell his relevance was dwindling by each moment. With how focused Naruto was on Sakura, it was almost as if his presence was entirely irrelevant here, and that wouldn't do. It was his job to keep him up to date on all comings and goings in the village. Troublesome as the role was, it was the role he had chosen for himself. Clearing his throat to get the attention of the pair, Shikamaru pocketed both his hands and returned the topic to the tasks ahead of them. "Not that I'm not happy that this place is cleaned up, but you've got work to do. I've dealt with the tensions between those traders, but that still leaves a lot to deal with."

Running over the necessities that Naruto had to complete as Lord Seventh, the one task that stood out to him was participation in a tradition of the Hokage before him. Overseeing a history lesson and offering words to the next generation to come, but it wasn't a task he had to do alone.

"You understand?" Shikamaru asked, replied by Naruto with a small nod of the head. Returning to his desk, Naruto had taken a seat to get back to work, his brow creased with thought. Just before Sakura could move to make a little conversation with him, Shikamaru jerked his head towards the door while giving her eye contact. The pair had stepped outside, and Naruto had looked up from his laptop to see Sakura raise her finger, giving him the signal that she would only be gone for a short time. He could use the moment to get back into work mode.

Shikamaru was the first to speak the moment the door had been closed. "I don't really know what that was about, but I should probably thank you for motivating him like that."

"What, the cleaning? Well, I was in the area yesterday and it was a mess—"

"I just mean coming around. It might be hard to believe, but with as much enthusiasm as he has with being Hokage he still has days where he looks more exhausted than I do. Things come up, and his son doesn't really help matters." Shikamaru rubbed the back of his neck and averted his eyes to the door. It was troublesome to talk about family issues that weren't his own. Shikadai could be a pain in his own way, but it was a family trait to be unmotivated and not even his mother, overbearing as she was, could change that. The difference between Shikadai and Bolt was that Shikadai wasn't causing trouble for the village as a whole. "I shouldn't be talking about it because it isn't my place, but …stick around, would you? I've got some more work to take care of before I can even think of finding a place to nap for a few hours, and as we both saw he has some determination to work a lot harder when you're around."

Sakura had remain hushed. Her thoughts ran to Bolt, who Sarada was not exactly fond of due to his arrogance. Even so, she was always drawn to following his moves against Naruto. The two were drastically different in the area of academic ability, but Sarada mentioned seeing something quite similar. What they both shared, what they both lacked, were faith in their fathers. Motivating Naruto was a good thing and whenever she was with him, she always did feel like she could accomplish amazing feats. Being more than a doctor, a disciple of Lady Tsunade, meant a lot.

"Okay, "Sakura agreed, "leave it to me. I'll be sticking around more, I think we could both use each other's help, if I'm being honest."

Shikamaru and Sakura both exchanged small words of thanks for the others time. As he left the building, Sakura placed her hand on the doorknob and froze. Peering down at her feet, she slightly parted her feet to read Naruto's carpet captions. A small moment of appreciation was had; even after all his growing up, there was still a small measure of a lovable idiot inside him behind that mature exterior and masculine physique. Stepping back inside, Sakura closed the door and moved to the desk just as Naruto leaned back in his seat, staring at the ceiling in thought.

"Sorry about that, Shikamaru needed a second to talk." Sakura joined Naruto behind his desk, but kept her back to the laptop. The matters of the Hokage were for him and him alone. "

"Will you do that speech with me?" For a Hokage, Naruto's voice was frail and almost fearful of what he was saying.

Sakura directed her attention to him, "For the kids?"

"Yeah, I could use you there."

"What could I possibly talk about?" Sakura laughed a little at the thought of her offering some great, amazing speech for the next generation. "No one wants to be like me, they want to be like you. The boy who became Hokage and saved the world."

"I didn't do it alone, I had people help me get here," Naruto leaned forward and stood up, "and don't forget that you were one of them. So, what do you say?"

Sakura could tell that he really meant for her to do this, but for all the confidence Ino had helped give her earlier she was still hesitant about her increased involvement, "What about Hinata?"

"I considered that while you were out, but it got me really thinking about our story."

Sakura raised an eyebrow, "Our story?"

Naruto nodded, smiling timidly, "Yeah, we've come a long way together. Neither of us really had much talent in the beginning, but hard work and people to support us have gotten us to where we are. I don't doubt that Hinata could do well with me, but you'd offer more strength to what I would say. Not to mention we've seen what we can do, so we can vouch for what the other had accomplished." Naruto turned his back on his desk and rested against it just beside her, eyes to the window. "If you said no, I'll understand. It would just be nice to…"

"To feel like …a team again?"

Naruto returned his focus to Sakura who had offered him the same attention. He didn't expect her to understand what he had meant, yet here she was finishing his sentences. "Y-yeah …it's been …well—"

"Different, I know." Sakura looked away, afraid her shame would wash over her the longer she gazed on his face. She wasn't going to run away from him, instead she'd face this as best she could. "I'm sorry about …about everything, Naruto. I know you might think that you can't blame me for what I did to us, and our friendship, but I accepted responsibility for it a long time ago. No matter what you say about it now, I'm the one at fault, and I won't let you put it on yourself." She fought her cowardice, attention firmly returning to his. Their eyes locked, Sakura's holding fire, and Naruto's holding joy. "I'm here now, and …yesterday was one of the best days I've had in a long time. It's sudden, but I'd really like to fight this guilt in my heart and try to move on from my mistakes. If you'll forgive me, I want try to return to the way we used to be."

In his heart Naruto wanted to accept Sakura's admittance of guilt, but even more than that he wanted to convince her that he was ready for this, and had been ready for the last several years. It wasn't a matter of forgiving Sakura, it was now a matter of figuring out why they had to have this conversation to begin with. What had brought the rift between them had been a mystery for such a long time. Even if Sakura seemed to have all the details she needed, he was still in the dark about it. He couldn't pretend that this conversation wasn't growing much more important than it had before. This was the opportunity he needed to ask something he's wanted to know for a very long time, and he wouldn't allow it to pass him by.

"Sakura-chan, could I ask you something?"

"Go ahead."

He paused and swallowed, a lump forming in his throat. A question that could either mend them, or ruin them again, but he had to know for sure.

"Did I hurt you?" Naruto's voice was full of sorrow and intrigue, catching Sakura off guard instantaneously. The brightness of his eyes was reduced by the narrowing of his eyes, the gaze moving to the floor beneath the two. "Back then, I always wondered if I did it …if I had ruined us somehow. When I wasn't with Hinata or anyone else I would just sit somewhere and think about what I could have done to make you want to stay away from me. If I tried to push, you'd pull away, and if I tried to reach out for you …you wouldn't reach back. It was painful…"

Every part of Sakura wanted to cry out and tell him no, but she continued to listen if only because she had spent so long neglecting him. He was giving her what was really in his heart all this time, and to interrupt him now would be unforgivable. Naruto deserved this, and Sakura was willing to give it to him, no matter how much it was hurting her to hear this.

"I didn't want to cripple our bond, but everything I tried to do for you didn't matter …you didn't acknowledge me anymore. It was almost as if I was a kid again, at a time where everyone shunned me." His body shuddered as he spoke, and Sakura was all too familiar with that sign of sadness. Her own eyes burned as tears were fought back, but she'd hold on, just a little more…

"I had to accept that I did something wrong, and that you might never have forgiven me for it. If I could see you again, if we could have talked, I was asking myself what I could have said or done for you to want to spend time with me again …and out of the blue you came back in my life. I was really happy yesterday, too." He was smiling in spite of his shuddering, and had even managed to laugh quietly. "I was so happy that I had forgotten about that pain …more than anything I just wanted you to be able to count on me again, and to spend time like we used to. So even if it was just for a little while, I wanted to experience what it was like for you to be my friend again. Maybe …maybe I'm just being selfish about it, but I want you to know how much it means to me that you came back again, because if you didn't, I may never have forgiven myself for—"

Naruto's breath was lost, his body now tightly embraced by the one who had brought this situation. Without noticing it, Naruto had begun sobbing moments ago but continued to speak as if he was still just talking, but for Sakura, who was forced to watch as he broke down bit by bit, it had become too much to bear. She had surrendered her space in order to be closer to him than she had been in ten years. Out of all regrets, past and present, this was one that was tearing at her the most: Naruto suffered as a result of what she had to do, what she had carried on her shoulders all this time, and she was entirely blind to what it was doing to him. It never left him, and she was too much of a coward to hear just how much she had broken him inside. The tears that flowed stained his torso, and muffles cries were made by just how close she wanted to be to his heart. Naruto, still caught by surprise with her suddenly embrace, finally snapped out of his stunned silence in order to bring his arms around her back and comfort her.

The gesture said enough. Pain was acknowledged, accepted, and most of all they both wanted this.

It had been several minutes before Sakura's cries had dwindled down to silent sniffles, and Naruto's tears had been able to cease flowing. Neither dared to let go first, but it was Sakura who had chosen to speak first.

"Don't blame yourself anymore …do you understand me, Naruto?" While her body shook, her voice was firm and unmistakably commanding. "This wasn't you …it was never your fault, it never was …so …get that through your thick skull …okay?"

"…Yeah." Naruto gently rested his chin against her head, trying his best to feel the beating of her heart with his. In spite of a wife whom he loved dearly, holding Sakura like this was cathartic. So much time spent believing he was the cause of his own pain, and here Sakura was telling him otherwise. He could tell that they were both at their lowest points, which made masks very impossible to maintain. Sakura was telling him the truth. He wasn't the one to blame. "Can you at least …tell me why?"

Sakura's teeth were grit, her grasp noticeably tightening at the request. There was all the reason to tell Naruto what all of this was for, but the truth would crush him much more than his years of questioning himself would. He deserved to know what it was about, why she had brought this on him and why she had stood by as he felt the weight of a burden that she intended to bear on her own. Suffering through this mission was never meant to wound anyone but herself, and here she was holding one of the people closest to her that suffered the most. Ino missed her. Naruto wept because of her. It seemed as if she could do nothing right but harm others.

"…I can't, Naruto …not yet…" Sakura's voice strained. Her throat was beginning to burn even worse than her eyes.

"Is it …at least over? What's troubled you about me all this time?" He asked quietly, shutting his eyes.

Sakura couldn't find it in her to respond to that, instead focusing on his warmth, scent, and just how secure she felt in his grasp. It was the safest she had felt in so long, a luxury that she never could afford anymore, nor deserved. She had wondered for just a single, fleeting moment if he'd let her go had she told the truth about everything. Someday she might have the answer to that, but for now she wanted to let this moment last a little longer. They'd return to their lives shortly, except they'd leave this room as friends again. After so long, it had been incredible to walk beside him again. She'd want more days and nights like that, if she could have them. The subject would need to be changed to something a little more trivial.

"I'm sorry …I got your shirt wet." Sakura raised her head to look at him, eyes red but softened after the much needed release of emotions. What she looked up to see was Naruto appearing at peace. Expecting a face twisted with pain, she wasn't prepared to find that he looked happy after all of this. When his eyes opened again it was concern and some semblance of happiness within, not the pain and doubt that she had to see just minutes before.

"It's nice, so I don't mind it..."

"…The damp shirt?" Sakura asked, resting her forehead against his chest again, emotions exhausting her. "Why?"

"It's not the shirt I'm talking about, Sakura-chan." Voice barely above a whisper, Naruto stopped talking and left Sakura to put together the meaning for herself.

The office was without noise, and this moment had gone from seconds, to minutes, until they had stopped bothering to count how long they stood there holding one another. Neither of them had said it, but they had both known that in spite of whatever happiness their everyday lives might have brought them – whether occasional or rare – that something had been missing.

This friendship, this bond they shared, was no longer just a memory. They were real again.

A/N - This chapter originally wasn't meant to be so angst-filled, but as I wrote I believed it probably better that Naruto ask the questions now so they can move forward easier. This was also the debut of my first attempt at using Taka-characters, as well as Sasuke, so go easy please ^^''. With that said, I'd like to give a big thank you to those who are enjoying the content thus far, and have favorited the story despite two measly chapters until this point. I would also like to express some serious gratitude to the kind reviews left by several individuals.

Canon May Care - I was really giddy when I read your review and you know how to make a guy feel really good about himself. Thank you so much for taking the time to leave that review, and I'm glad I could impress you. It's my goal to treat the girls with much more respect than their creator, and I hope not to let anyone down when they continue to interact as this story progresses. I hope you continue to be a fan!

Brooklynboy96, The Dark End, arsenalfan99, animeficfan, onepieceloverforever, Beast Mode 01, great story, - Thanks a ton for the support guys, it really means a lot to me.

sushi95 - I'm taking my time with this. If I wanted mindless sex, I'd write a lemon rather than an ongoing story. Hope to keep having your support!

Guest who said "Ino's a bitch." - I hope she's not a bitch in this chapter!

All right, that'll be it for now. Thanks again for the reviews, the favorites, and the follows. Nothing makes me happier than knowing this story has prompted the readers to do at least one of those three things, and I hope you'll all stick with me on this journey!