release

After a war that felt never-ending, Sakura began to believe that happiness was fleeting.

But every time she watched her friends get married, she would note the tenderness floating in the space between their bodies with envy. Their smiles would reach their eyes, alit by adoration, and she thought that maybe, maybe, that fleeting happiness could freeze time into an endless moment.

She tried to shake away these thoughts as she fiddled with the cup in her hands, her eyes following Shikamaru and Temari dancing languidly after saying I do in front of the better part of the leaf and sand shinobis. The festivities were nearing the end, and the attended were starting to fizzle out of the reception in the late hours of the night.

She was happy for her friends, ecstatic even, but being one of the last unmarried -even single ones in their friend group weighed heavily on her conscious. She was the romantic one, the one who was consumed by childlike love for the better part of her life, the one who had dreams and aspirations of a great romance, and yet…

She looked angrily at the content of her cup, swirling the ounce of liquid left at the bottom, and sighed. She had better things to think about than how envious she was of her comrades. After all, I'm not the last one, she thought, her eyes drifting to where Naruto was standing with Sasuke. The blonde man was clearly inebriated, his arms flailing everywhere, a contrast to his usually serious demeanour when he was in public. I'm the Hokage now, I must be, he declared once. But the brief thought was directed to the brooding man at his side. Clearly sober, he was watching Naruto with amusement, a smirk playing at the corner of his lips. His hand was twitching at his side, awaiting the moment his friend -brother would stumble, and would be there to catch him, not unlike the many times Naruto had straightened him to the right path. She couldn't help the longing that momentarily crossed her face as she envisioned what it would be like to dance in his arms after promising the rest of their lives to each other.

As if on cue, his eyes drifted towards Sakura's, sensing her heavy gaze. She looked away, embarrassed at having been caught in a moment of weakness. I'm not twelve anymore. But around the last Uchiha, the way her heart would do summersaults inside her chest made her feel like a child; a twelve-year-old little girl with bubble-gum pink hair playing at being an adult. Nevertheless, her friendliness and professionalism didn't falter; she'd learned from her childhood mistakes, treated him as a friend, and as an invaluable teammate. He needed that understanding, that insurance that Team 7 would be there for him through thick and thin. Thus, she made sure not to be clingy, or worse -annoying, whispered the voice in her head, recalling his words whenever the treacherous feeling that she neared crossing the invisible line between then swept over her.

Her leftover lucidity registered his presence nearing her table, and she downed the rest of her drink, cringing at the burning sensation its trail left down her throat. "Tired?"

She nodded quickly, looking up at his unmoving face. His face was cold, unmoving, but she could note the concern in the slight quirk of his brow. "I think I'm a little buzzed," she mumbled an excuse.

He frowned, his eyes trailing over the cup sitting in front of her. "You should start heading home to rest. It's late." His advice came out as a demand. "I'm leaving."

Sakura considered the invitation. She knew she should decline it, but her twelve-year-old self won, and she found herself nodding and standing up. She quickly went to congratulate the couple one last time and said goodbye to the attending Kazekage and his brother, knowing she would not have the chance to do so as they were leaving early in the morning. Sasuke patiently waited by the entrance, and they both headed out in the dark streets of Konoha, walking side by side.

"You're silent," he noted after a while. He was never in the habit of engaging in conversation, but he seemed perturbed by her unusual muteness.

She hummed in agreement and looked up at the stars. For some reason, they seemed to shine a brighter than she ever noted before tonight. The air was heavy, and the moon was full -it felt like some sort of cosmic event was slowly pending. "I'm happy for my friends."

He made a sound, low in his throat. But?

"We're getting old," she continued, as if that answered his question, hoping that he would take the subtle hint, "-for shinobis at least."

When they had dragged him back to the village ten years ago after the war's conclusion, Sasuke was a mess, blabbering apologies to him teammates, his sins at the forefront of his mind. Sakura made sure to tend to him and help him in any way she could, watching over him day and night, and monitoring the wound left by his missing arm. Slowly, the hidden wounds deep in his heart tumbled out to her inviting ears; there was something brewing there. It came to the surface when one day, Sasuke pulled her aside. I'm sorry, I will never hurt you again -I will not allow myself to do it, even if I must die, he had declared apologetically, gently placing his hand on top of her head. His words reigned heavily, an understanding passing between them, and yet, for the past decade, a part of her had hoped that he was wrong in his assumption, that they could…

"We're the last two people in the group," she continued, glancing at him from the corner of her eye, "and we've lived longer than a lot of shinobis." There was a silent plea in her words, a plea that didn't go amiss for Sasuke, who ran his remaining hand through his hair.

"Yes," he muttered under his breath, but it came out as like a resolute sigh. "I've been thinking about it." I've been thinking about reviving my clan.

Sakura stopped walking. But not with you.

She hesitated for a moment, but promptly pushed away the offensive thought in preference for the sliver of hope she had yet to banish away. She still had some liquid courage, and she would be damned if she let it go to waste. She might never have this chance again. "Sasuke…"

He braced himself, knowing exactly what this would entail. "Sakura."

She loved him, and she was tired. "I-I love you, and I am tired. It's been ten years -ten years," she started, her voice shaking at the end, "and I'm giving it one last thought." She rubbed her arms, shivering. She was wearing a sleeveless dress, and she didn't know whether she was shaking from the biting cold that set over Konoha as night fell over them, or in preparation for the decision she would be making.

He remained unmoving, his face set into a mask of indifference.

"I've loved you for so long," she continued. She knew his answer and yet, she looked at him expectedly, that same sliver of hope brewing in the depths of her heart.

He looked away, and she saw a flash of pain cross his face. "Sakura, I never want to hurt you again."

She smiled sadly. I know, this is not your fault. "You and Naruto and the most precious people in my life, my only family," he continued, staring into the distance. "My only goal is to protect both of you and rebuild my clan."

"You and Naruto are also the most precious people in my life," she replied, "and my only goal and to make you both happy and achieve your goals. Naruto is Hokage now, but you…"

Heavy silence reigned over them. Two, three beats later, he looked back at her. "I can't let you do that." I can't love you the way you deserve. "I will hurt you." I will break your heart. "Again." Forever.

She smiled sadly and stepped closer to him, until her chest was almost against his, and placed her palm against his cheek. Fighting against her trepidation, her heart felt like it would fly out of her chest. She nonetheless stood on her toes, almost surprised that he was allowing her this moment of selfishness. He watched as she gently placed her lips on his in a chaste kiss, closing her eyes. The only contact that has was through their closed lips and her hand on his face. The action felt like the culmination of a lifelong battle, and yet, seemed almost impersonal.

The whole thing lasted for two seconds, and she found her heart resuming its regular beat. Resolute, she pulled her lips and hand away, and stepped back. "Thank you for looking out for me Sasuke."

He smiled, genuine and relieved, an action that would seem unnatural to any outsider. He had come a long way from the broody and uncaring little brat he was when they were genin. In those past circumstances, he would've selfishly taken what he wanted, blinded by his revenge and desire to restore the Uchiha name, and married her with no regards to her wellbeing. After all, she would've been a willing participant into his happiness, popping out kid after kid, even at the detriment of her own heart. He would've never loved her, and…

"After tonight, I don't want to love you anymore."

He tilted his head, curious but understanding. She reached out for his hand, squeezing it affectionately. It felt like she was breaking up with him, and the thought amused him. In his life, there's been very few certainties. I will kill Itachi, restore my clan, Naruto is loud, Sakura is annoying, Sakura is in love with me…

He watched her go, and at the thought of crossing that last thing off the list, a selfish part of him couldn't help but feel disappointed that she didn't fight harder.

I've never really liked Sasuke a whole lot, but after chapter 669, I've recently started to turn around, and see him in a different light. His character has really progressed into a much superior form to what he was during shippuden.

Although his relationship with Sakura post 669 is really tender and loving, I can't help but need more tangible background for what happened in between. This is why i Wanted to write something more angst-y. That doesn't mean I haven't been reading speculative fics about them getting together (ngl most of them are better written than anything kishimoto wouldve ever come up with lol), but I don't think I will ever be a big shipper for this pair, unless something more happens in the naruto world

I hope you guys enjoyed this! and for those who read this and are following my story Rose, it's been quite a few years and I don't know when i will get back to it, but i promise i will. I gave my word to finish it after all, but I've grown and there are a lot of things i need i need to change before i continue.

best of all everyone