A/N: The second chapter already out ... who am I?
The hum of machinery, the faint smell of chemicals, and the organized chaos of her pathologist lab – this was Naruto's sanctuary. It was here that she delved into the mysteries of the human body, unearthing secrets hidden deep within cells and tissues. With her dedicated team of researchers, they were on the brink of a groundbreaking discovery that could reshape medical history.
As the lead researcher, she was in her element, surrounded by gadgets, microscopes, and scrolls. Her team of researchers busily jotted down notes, occasionally pausing to share insights or review findings. Naruto, with her golden hair tied in a ponytail, was deeply engrossed in a series of complex formulas when a familiar, yet unexpected, silhouette knocked the doorway.
A tall figure with spiky, jet-black hair, and piercing onyx eyes stepped into the room, momentarily silencing the hum of activity. It was Sasuke Uchiha.
As she adjusted her microscope, a shadow fell across her workstation. Naruto looked up, her blue eyes widening in surprise as they met the intense gaze of Dr. Sasuke Uchiha, the renowned surgeon. His black cloak was a stark contrast against the sterile white of the lab, and the Uchiha insignia flashed prominently.
Naruto blinked, raising her azure eyes to meet his. There was a fleeting moment of recognition, followed by surprise. "Sasuke?" she whispered.
He studied her carefully. "Naruto Hatake?" There was disbelief evident in his tone.
She couldn't help the faint smile that crossed her lips. "It's been a long time, hasn't it?"
Indeed, their paths had diverged years ago. Naruto remembered Sasuke as the intense
"Sasuke? What are you doing here?" she asked, her voice echoing the surprise she felt.
He glanced around the lab, noting the familiar beakers and medical equipment. "I heard Sarada started volunteering here," he began hesitantly.
Naruto nodded. "Yes, she's joined our research team. She's brilliant, you know."
A brief flash of pride appeared in Sasuke's eyes, but it was quickly replaced by confusion. "I know, I am looking for a Dr. Uzumaki; my daughter mentioned she was working under her.
A man, Dr. Sai Yamanaka, written on his white lab coat, snorted. Walking around the large equipment, he draped his arms around Naruto, "You're looking at her, Uchiha."
Sasuke raised his eyebrow and looked back at Dr. Sai. He knew who Dr. Sai Yamanaka was; he had the unfortunate experience of being his lab partner during medical school. Standing at a lean six feet, his pale complexion contrasts starkly against the jet-black ink adorned his arms – an intricate mesh of traditional tattoos, often peeking from underneath his rolled-up lab coat sleeves. These tattoos, reminiscent of his artist days, not only stood a testament to his past that Sasuke only knew to well but also reflected the man's deep affinity for art, a juxtaposition to his scientific pursuits.
Sai's clothing choices can only be described as unorthodox for a pathologist. He often paired his standard-issue white lab coat with graphic tees featuring obscure art references or sarcastic quips. His pants, more often than not, are vibrantly coloured, with shades ranging from electric blue to neon green. And while most doctors would don the usual professional shoes, Sai's feet are almost always covered in paint-splattered converse sneakers, hinting at his past life as an artist or perhaps his after-hours activities.
But it wasn't just his attire that had Sasuke's insides buzzing. While Sai's behavior was eclectic as his fashion sense, it was seeing Naruto draped in another man's arms – a feeling Sasuke did not think he'd feel again.
"Naruto Uzumaki?" Sasuke said slowly eyeing Sai, "I didn't think you were the type to take on your husband last time."
Naruto shrugged Sai off her shoulders and walked towards him, "Divorced, actually, and his last name was Sabaku. I took on my parent's last name before I finished medical school as a tribute to them. It's actually Hatake-Uzumaki, hyphenated."
Sasuke nodded; he knew Naruto had married and heard it from Itachi, who was invited. But never asked got around to asking who she married. Knowing she was divorced somehow lifted something off his chest, which he didn't know was there to begin with.
"Sorry." He said, not knowing how else to respond.
Naruto laughed, "Don't be. It's better for everyone. Why are you here Sasuke? I'm assuming its not to see an old acquaintance since you didn't know who Dr. Uzumaki was."
Naruto felt a familiar flutter in her chest as Dr. Sasuke Uchiha stepped into her pathology lab. Time seemed to slow, the ambient hum of machinery and murmured conversations fading to a distant murmur. Though they were both now established professionals, for a brief moment, she was a teenager again, stealing glances at him from behind her textbooks. He looked different, yet unmistakably Sasuke. Gone were the days of his sharp, rebellious outfits, replaced with a more mature, understated elegance. His jet-black hair was neatly swept back, a few errant strands falling over his forehead. The lab's overhead lights caught the slight sheen of stubble that dusted his jawline, making him look rugged yet refined.
Sasuke was always a force to be reckoned with, even more so now in the attire that screamed casual sophistication. He donned a simple white button-down shirt, rolled up to the elbows, revealing sinewy forearms, and well-fitted dark jeans that hinted at his athletic build. The ensemble was completed with leather loafers that made him look effortlessly stylish. He radiated a quiet confidence that came from years of honing his skills and becoming the best in his surgical field. The sight was almost jarring in the sterile environment of the lab, like witnessing a majestic lion in a modern-day setting.
Naruto felt a warmth creeping up her neck and hoped fervently that her cheeks weren't betraying her emotions. Her heart raced, not just at his current appearance but at the rush of memories it brought back. The countless skirmishes, sharp retorts, shared laughs, and those intense moments when their eyes would lock in a wordless conversation. And amid all those memories, the palpable weight of her unrequited feelings for him. Back then, it was a mixture of adoration, envy, and the sting of a first love that was never reciprocated.
She shook off the sudden onslaught of nostalgia. This was a different time, a different setting. They were no longer impulsive teenagers but accomplished adults in their respective fields. And yet, the undeniable chemistry, the magnetic pull she felt towards Sasuke, remained unchanged. The past might be behind them, but its echoes were very much present in that lab, in that moment.
As Sasuke stepped further into her large lab, the sight of Naruto, standing confidently in her lab with an aura of natural authority, made his heart skip a beat. The golden locks, now longer and pulled into a neat bun, gleamed under the lab lights. The same cerulean eyes that used to shimmer with mischief now had an added depth, reflecting years of experience and wisdom.
Realizing that his daughter, Sarada, had actively sought out Naruto as a guiding figure felt strangely satisfying. Sasuke had always admired Naruto's innate strength, a blend of unyielding spirit and profound kindness. He remembered their younger days when Naruto's unwavering faith in people and her boundless optimism would often clash with his more cynical viewpoints. Knowing that same spirit would now influence Sarada gave him a sense of comfort.
However, there was also an underlying layer of unease. The lab was filled with chatter and equipment noises, but an unsaid conversation loomed between the two of them. Years had passed, but he found himself transported back to their school days, wanting to ask questions that he had never gotten the chance to voice.
Why had she left without a word just before their high school graduation? What had drawn her so far away that she never thought to return, not even for a fleeting visit? Over the years, whispers and rumours had painted fragmented pictures of her life, but Sasuke wanted to know the real story. The woman he once knew was fiery, passionate, and wore her heart on her sleeve. But the Dr. Uzumaki before him seemed to have added layers of complexity.
Curiosity battled with pride as he approached her. A part of him wanted to just ask about Sarada and leave the unsaid words buried in the past. Another part, one that he often suppressed, wanted to reconnect and understand the woman Naruto had become. Every step he took closer to her added weight to the questions in his mind, their shared history swirling around them in the cool, sterile air of the lab.
"You're right, I came about Sara."
"Sara?" Naruto questioned.
Sasuke's lips curled a little, "Sarada I mean. I've always called her Sara for short."
Naruto nodded, smiling. She never thought she'd see Sasuke Uchiha be gentle, but here he was, his manners taking a 180 when talking about his daughter. She supposed she was the same too, when talking about her son. It must be a parental thing, which even the stoic Sasuke Uchiha couldn't escape.
"Everything okay?" Naruto asked.
"Well, I wanted to talk to Dr. Uzumaki, sorry, I mean you about her. She hasn't spoken with me lately. She's distant. I just... I want to make sure she's okay. And she seems to have taken a liken to you and tells me she talks to you often. I wanted to meet you and discuss how she's doing." Sasuke stated.
Understanding the depth of his concern, Naruto walked until she was within arms reach and placed a reassuring hand on his arm. "Sasuke, she's becoming a young adult. She's making choices for her career, for her life. Just like we did at her age."
Sasuke snorted, recalling his own teenage years. Naruto grinned, understanding where his mind went to. She raised an eyebrow, urging Sasuke to continue.
Before Sasuke could retort, a sharp voice interrupted, "Naruto, we've got an anomaly in sample 34B. We need your expertise." Shikamaru, her right-hand man and longtime friend, approached with a concerned expression.
Sasuke looked behind her, glaring at the new man for interrupting.
Shikamaru looked between the two, "am I interrupting something?"
Sasuke continued glaring while Shikamaru looked at them nonchalantly.
She sighed, sensing the growing tension. "Look, Sasuke, we can discuss this later. But know this – Sarada's safety and well-being are my priority too. She's a great kid, and you're not nothing to worry about. We can discuss more later, but I need to go for now."
He hesitated for a moment, their shared past reflecting in his eyes. "Fine," he muttered, "But this conversation isn't over. Do you have a number I can reach you at?"
Naruto nodded, she gestured to Shikamaru to get back to work as she grabbed one of her cards and quickly wrote her number on the back. "Here," she said, handing Sasuke the card. "Message me, and I'll get back to you later."
Sasuke nodded, "It's great to see you again, Naruto."
Naruto watched as he strolled out of her lab and pocked her card. It really sucked that he only got more attractive with age. Hopefully, his personality also grew up too.
As he left, Naruto exchanged a look with Shikamaru, who decided to lean against the table instead of going back to work. The latter raised an eyebrow, silently asking, "Old flame?"
She smiled wryly, "Old times, Shika. Just old times."
Shikamaru rolled his eyes; he wasn't a genius for a reason. Also, it wasn't every day that someone stopped Dr. Sasuke Uchiha in his tracks. But for now, it was too troublesome to think about; they had a sample to return to.
Naruto looked back at the lab's entrance one last time as she entered Shikamaru's office, watching the shadows of Sasuke's retreating figure.
Their pasts might have been intertwined, but the present held its challenges. And as Naruto turned her attention back to the pressing matters of her lab, she knew that confronting the past was inevitable.
A/N: Don't forget to leave a review.