The following day Sakura was sitting with one of the children inside the children's mental health clinic. After the council approved her funding with Ino, Sakura started the clinic with the help of some volunteers within the hospital's staff. The large room was filled with games and toys to play with, along with different colored tables with chairs for drawing and crafting to be done while medical staff worked with the children asking them questions and providing a safe space for them to be. She was thrilled when a couple of her friends volunteered to come in and visit to be with the children, especially when Sai volunteered to do some art along the room walls for Sakura, using bright colors and animal drawings to make the room more inviting.

She watched over the seven-year-old boy as he drew a picture. He was shyer than the other children; he preferred expressing his feelings through art. The first time she saw him gravitate toward the art supplies, Sai sat with him and drew alongside him. They bonded over art, something in which Ino took an interest as she sat alongside Sai when he visited. Sakura thought it was best to continue this exercise with him rather than force him into the other forms of assistance.

The clinic door opened, and Ino Yamanaka grinned from ear to ear, looking directly at Sakura. Raising her eyebrow, Sakura looked at her friend and excused herself from the boy she was sitting with as another nurse came by to take her spot with him. She approached Ino keeping her voice down as the other children were doing different exercises.

"Hey Ino, what's up?" Sakura asked.

Ino grinned, running a hand through her long blond hair. "I came to see if you wanted to grab lunch before we meet with Kakashi Sensei. I hope we hear some good news from Suna about the proposal for a clinic there."

Sakura smiled and nodded as she gestured for Ino to lead the way out of the clinic. With the children's clinic on the hospital's ground level, the pair decided to leave after Sakura had put her white coat in her locker. Together the pair began walking down the streets of Konoha as they headed to a nearby cafe.

"So, how are things going for you and Naruto?" Ino asked curiously.

Sakura grinned as she looked at Ino. "Amazing! As you saw yesterday, he's still his usual goofy self, and I love him! I honestly wish I had been honest with my feelings toward him earlier."

"I wish that too," Ino said, rolling her eyes. "You can be so hard-headed sometimes; you know that, Sakura?"

Sakura sighed, frowning a little. "Look, I'm sure I haven't thanked you enough for getting us together. But do you have to bring up the past all the time?"

Ino giggled a little as they approached the double doors to the cafe. Sakura held the door open for Ino as the smell of freshly brewed coffee hit their noses as soon as they entered. It was a mid-sized cafe with an area for customers to dine in and enjoy their meals and a market area to buy coffee by the type of bean the customer preferred and desserts such as slices of cake, muffins, cookies, and loose herbs for tea. It was painted in bright yellow and white colors with wooden accents to give it a certain sunny feeling while inside the cafe. With it currently empty, the hostess at the door allowed the pair to choose to sit in the dine-in area. After they sat down, their waitress greeted them and handed them menus to start looking over what they'd like to indulge in.

"I know you have a boyfriend now, but it'd be nice if we could have a girls' night soon," Ino said, looking down at her menu.

Sakura smiled, looking over at her. "Sure, although I'm not the only one with a boyfriend or a husband now!"

Ino rolled her eyes. "Yeah, rub it in, why don't you? At least the other two don't completely fall off the earth's face sometimes because of their boyfriend. I swear he makes sure to monopolize all your time and leave none for me!"

Sakura shrugged while smiling. "Well, you told me you stayed booked on the dating scene. You can't tell me that no one has caught your eye yet?"

Ino growled, bawling her fist on the table. "Someone has, but he doesn't pick up on my intentions! He's making me second-guess myself. I mean, look at me, I'm Ino Yamanaka! Drop-dead gorgeous, most desirable woman in the Leaf! And here I am, single; I helped you out with Naruto. The least you can do is buy Sai a book that says you dunce Ino is available!" she said, stressing the last word with her eyes wider than usual.

Sakura sighed, understanding how Ino felt. "You've got to remember Sai didn't grow up as we did. Being part of the Anbu from a young age, I'm sure he's seen and done some missions we can't even imagine. He's come a long way since we first met him. Even if he can still miss some social queues."

Ino nodded as their waitress returned with a teapot, teacups, and a multilayered dessert stand with many sweets. Sakura began pouring the tea while Ino watched as her cup was filled with the flavored liquid.

"I know you're right. It's just that I feel left out sometimes." Ino admitted. "For example, Shikamaru and Temari have something going on even though they don't want to admit it. Hinata and Kiba are cute together and balance each other out with their personalities. Tenten and Neji are married, and you helped Rock Lee get a girlfriend. Choji is well, Choji, but I saw him talking to Karui the last time a Five Kage summit was held here in the village. And he's always trying to sneak over to Kumogakure; meanwhile, here I am, alone." she said sadly before putting her face in her hands.

Sakura frowned as she reached across the table, putting her hand on Ino's arm. Ino looked up at Sakura. "I'll talk to him, Ino, and I'll even put Naruto on the task. I am curious, why Sai and not Sasuke? I mean, we used to fight over him all the time."

Ino blushed a little as she picked up a cookie from the dessert stand on their table. She broke a small piece off it before putting it into her mouth.

"He was the first man to call me beautiful and meant it sincerely." She admitted.

Sakura's frown deepened, remembering that moment. She especially remembered when Sai had called her ugly. And later on, their newly formed team encountered team ten. After deciding to go to lunch together, she remembered waiting for Sai to nock Ino down a peg, but instead, the complement only boosted Ino's ego.

"Yeah, I remember," Sakura said bitterly while snatching a cookie off the dessert stand and greedily biting a large chunk out of it.

"Oh!" Ino said, suddenly remembering something then. "You said you were looking for a new apartment, right?"

Sakura smiled, glad for the change of subject. "Yeah, my rent is going up at my place at the end of my lease this month. And Naruto and I were thinking about getting a place together. We'll probably start looking into that after we return from Suna."

Ino's eyes widened in surprise as she leaned back in her chair. "Really!? You two are getting serious, huh?"

Sakura blushed a little. "That and it'll be cheaper to live together since he's always at my apartment all the time. Sometimes, I tell him to stay the night when it's too late."

Ino picked her teacup up, sensing some gossip brewing underneath the story. "Really, and what happens when he stays the night?" She asked excitedly while wiggling her shoulders with a sly smile.

Sakura looked a little confused as she raised an eyebrow. "We cuddle next to each other, and we sleep; that's about it."

Ino rolled her eyes and frowned, setting her tea glass down. "Girl! I thought you were about to tell me you and Naruto finally did it! I was ready to hear how freaky he is in the sheets!"

Sakura turned an embarrassing color red as the qipao dress she was wearing. "INO!" Sakura screeched in a higher-pitched tone.

"Come on, Sakura! We're best friends; I'll share all my stories with Sai when-"

"No, Ino! Sai is my teammate; I don't want to hear about him doing that." Sakura said, waving her hands wildly. "Look, let's just change the subject!"

Ino giggled, looking at Sakura as the waitress returned with the soup and salad they ordered.

Naruto was walking down the busy roads with his hands in his pockets. His mind was busy wondering about what his friends were saying. He'd want to move forward in his relationship with Sakura. But he wasn't sure of how to ask her to marry him. Or if Sakura was even thinking about marrying him. It seemed as if everything was on him at this point.

It took the longest time for them to be in a relationship. But now that they were dating, they were better than ever. And at the same time, he inadvertently ignored his friends. He felt guilty about not spending time with them. Along with his desire to become Hokage, his mind swam with ideas as he stared down at the ground as he walked.

"Why the long face Naruto?"

He looked up to see Iruka Umino smiling at him and then waving. "Iruka Sensei!"

Iruka chuckled as he walked up to his former student. "I wanted to meet up with you at some point today. It seems like it was fate that we're meeting here! Let's grab some ramen, my treat!"

Naruto's face lit up as he followed Iruka to the Ichiraku ramen shop. They sat down on the stool chairs and happily started talking.

"So, what'd you want to talk to me about, Iruka sensei?" Naruto asked.

"Well, first, thank you for volunteering at the academy. The students have taken a liking to you and Sakura. But we haven't had a chance to talk, just the two of us, in a long time. So what's been going on with you?"

Naruto took a deep breath before starting. He told Iruka everything that'd been going on in his mind. From his relationship with Sakura to what happened at the wedding. And then his relationships with his friends. Iruka nodded, taking everything in as the food was being prepared.

"That is a lot going on," Iruka admitted with his arms crossed over his chest.

Naruto sighed, looking down at the table with his shoulders slumped. "Yeah, I just don't know what I should do."

"First, I think you should let Sakura know how you feel." He chuckled, then rubbed his nose. "I still can't believe you, of all people, are talking about marriage. Then again, you're growing up, and I'm proud of you, Naruto! As much as you want to spend every waking moment with Sakura, moments like now. You can spend it with your friends when you have a day off. You're going to have to figure out a balance! That's what life is all about!"

Naruto nodded and began eating some of his ramen. "Balance, huh? We're having dinner with her parents tonight. So I'll see how that goes before bringing up the marriage talk."

They continued talking while they ate, enjoying their company, something they hadn't done in a long time.

After their meal, Sakura and Ino went to the Hokage building with their reports in hand. This meeting was vital as it explained the clinic's progress while asking for the budget to be raised. While this program was aimed at younger children, Sakura and Ino thought it should be time to start doing something with the teenagers and adults within the village. Sakura was already explaining her proposal in front of Kakashi, Shikamaru, and Shizune, who still helped assist Kakashi from time to time.

"And so, with an increased budget to the clinic, we can start fully incorporating more methods for teenagers and adults. All the while giving them something positive to do and look forward to instead of the current incidents happening in the Village. They need our help to cope with the loss of their families, and as shinobi, we're willing to give our lives for the Village. This is a good opportunity for the village to give them something for their parents' service." Sakura said while finishing her presentation.

Ino smiled proudly from the side of the room. Sakura hit everything they discussed in their meetings up to this point. And drove home the effectiveness of the clinic in the first place. Usually, Ino knew Sakura wasn't as comfortable with making a presentation. But when it comes to her work, her passion, she was in her element.

Kakashi finished looking over the report in his hand, nodding in approval. "I'm impressed with the amount of work the children's clinic has done in a short time. Shizune, you've spent time in the clinic. What is your opinion of the situation?"

Shizune, standing behind Kakashi, nodded with Tonton in her arms and smiled. "The children help the staff just as much as we help them. I think the budget should be expanded."

Kakashi smiled under his mask and turned to Shikamaru. It was no secret to everyone in the room who was doing most of the paperwork in the Hokage's building. Shikamaru closed the report before leaning back in his chair.

"I like the idea of expanding the clinic. However, we're getting pushback from the other departments regarding their budget. It's a real drag." He explained.

Ino frowned as she walked over and stood next to Sakura. "We'll you just heard Sakura explain all the good the clinic is doing. Take the report and show it in the next budget meeting!"

Shikamaru sighed. "Troublesome, it's not that simple, Ino. This needs to be approved by Lord Sixth and the rest of the council. They barely approved the clinic in the first place."

Sakura frowned, remembering how hard she had to push for the clinic. She took a step forward, looking at Shikamaru directly.

"I'm willing to come into the budget meeting and redo the presentation myself. This is needed; the number of teenagers being picked up by police for causing trouble in the Village is rising by record numbers. And even studies for adults needing mental assistance will assist those still coping from the war!"

Before Shikamaru could rebuttal, Kakashi knew it was time to step in. "I think all of us here believe in the usefulness of the clinic. But you need to remember that during the next budget meeting, you two will be in Suna presenting the idea of a clinic in their Village. Shikamaru is right that we need to have this approved first. This isn't a no to the expansion; we must follow the proper channels to get this approved."

Sakura nodded, knowing where he was coming from, and bowed slightly. "Thank you for taking the time to hear our presentation. Come on, Ino, let's get going."

Ino frowned, narrowing her eyes at Shikamaru, who frowned and complied with Sakura as they left the room. Shikamaru sighed, shaking his head. He was glad his teammate went with Sakura before she could begin a tirade.

"I can't believe this!" Ino growled next to Sakura as they exited the building.

Before Sakura could reply, Sai was headed toward them. They both stopped as he smiled and waved, stopping in his tracks when he was near them.

"Hi, Sai!" Ino said in a flirtatious voice while flipping her hair lightly.

Sakura looked at her and held in a laugh before turning back to Sai. "Hey Sai, were you summoned for a mission?"

"Yes, Kakashi asked for me to see him about something important. You two are going to Suna soon, right?" He asked curiously.

"That's right," Ino said quickly. "I don't know about Sakura, but I'm already packed!"

Sai looked at Ino directly then. "Be careful temperature out there can be pretty rough. Extra water will be needed for the trip."

Sakura frowned a little. "You sound like Naruto. This isn't the first time we've been on a mission. Though I do need to get some more moisturizer for my skin, the sun will be a little rough out there. I have to keep my skin right for my boyfriend!"

"I don't see why. He's managed to look past your brutish manners, monster strength, and I'm sure you look past his tiny-"

"Do you want me to shove my foot up your ass, Sai?" Sakura threatened in an icy tone. Meanwhile, smiling with her eyes closed and her hands held behind her back.

"Ooh, scary!" Sai said without looking the least bit scared. He turned back to Ino then. "Best of luck on your mission with Sakura Ino. You'll need it."

"Thank you, and you as well, Sai!" Ino said before blushing a little.

He entered the building, and as soon as the door closed, Sakura looked at Ino, who was still blushing. "I don't know what you see him, Ino."

"Don't worry about that; you have Naruto. And can you please try not to lose your temper with him? Also, what was he talking about, tiny-"

"Never mind that!" Sakura said quickly as she remembered how Sai commented on Naruto's male anatomy. "Anyways, I need to get back to the hospital. I need to do some rounds and an operation today."

Ino froze, grabbing Sakura's hand before she could start walking away. "Sakura, don't you think you're working too hard? We're going to be leaving for Suna in two days."

"I know, but this was the only time the patient and I had enough time to do this operation. After the operation, I'm going home; Naruto and I are having dinner with my parents tonight. After that, I'm relaxing, promise!"

Ino sighed and let Sakura's hand go. "Okay, but take it easy. Otherwise, I'm telling Naruto so he can get after you for working too much."

Sakura held her hands up defensively. "The last thing I need is an Uzumaki scolding. I'll get some rest, I promise. Have a good night, Ino!" Sakura said as she started jogging back to the hospital.

Ino sighed, shaking her head. "Hardheaded as usual."

Sakura had come home from work exhausted and was ready to take a nap. She wished she could get out of going to her parent's house for dinner, but she knew that was out of the question. After a shower, she'd gotten dressed in her civilian clothes. She was brushing her hair in the mirror when she heard a knock from the door, meaning it was Naruto coming to pick her up. Sakura opened the door to see him in his smiling, and she smiled in return before they kissed in the doorway.

"Hi!" She said happily.

"Hi! You ready to go?" He asked.

"Yeah, let me grab my purse, and I'm ready," Sakura said and quickly grabbed her items and shoes and locked her apartment door behind her.

They chatted on the way to her parent's house, and when they arrived, she knocked at the door as something delicious smelling came from behind it. The door opened, and Kizashi grinned, looking at his daughter and her boyfriend.

"Hey, the happy couple made it! Come on in!" Kizashi said, grinning.

He hugged Sakura and Naruto and let them inside to the dining room. Mebuki finished the food and set items on the table as they started sitting down. "Mom, do you want me to help bring stuff out?"

"No, you should sit! Take a load off your feet." Mebuki said, smiling from ear to ear.

Sakura sat down and frowned, her eyebrows creased as she looked from her mother's retreating figure to her boyfriend, who seemed equally confused. Usually, Mebuki had a thousand and one questions for Sakura as soon as they'd hit the front doorstep. Sakura knew something was happening and that she'd find out soon enough.

Kizashi cleared his throat, drawing their attention. "So, how's everything going between you two?"

Sakura was concerned now, raising an eyebrow and looking at her father. He never asked about their relationship.

"We're good, dad. How are you?"

"Great!" He replied as Mebuki came and sat next to him at the table.

"I hope you both enjoy it; it took a while to get all this together!" Mebuki said happily.

Sakura knew something was up when she looked down at the table. Her mother had made Sakura's favorite foods. This signaled that she was sorry about something she'd done. They'd started digging into the food when Mebuki began to speak.

"So, how long have you two been dating again?" She asked.

"Ah, six months!" Naruto said before taking a bite. "This is delicious, Mrs. Haruno!"

Mebuki's face lit up like a star on top of a Christmas tree at his compliment. "Thank you, Naruto! Though you don't have to call me Mrs. Haruno."

"Uh, I don't?" Naruto asked, bewildered.

"No, once you two get married, you can call me mom!"

Sakura choked on the rice she'd just swallowed, and everyone looked over at her in fear, especially Naruto, until she waved her hand, letting them know she was okay.

"MOM!" Sakura complained clearly embarrassed.

"What, it's true! You've been dating for a while now. And it looks like everything is going well. So why not drop the formalities? I say we kick them to the curb!" Mebuki explained, waving her hand.

Sakura shook her head. Of course, this is why they'd call them over to have dinner. Her mother was planning on hurrying their relationship. Sakura set her chopsticks down while looking at her mom directly.

"Mom, we're happy being in a relationship together. It's only been six months."

"Okay, but hear me out. A beautiful blond hair, blue-eyed little girl! Or maybe a pink-haired green-eyed baby boy!"

Sakura put her face into her hands, mortified at how the conversation was going. Naruto, next to her, chuckled though he was blushing at the thought of having children with Sakura in front of her parents.

"Well, I don't have any objections to marriage, y'know," Naruto stated.

Sakura looked up from her hand's eyes wide at Naruto incredulously. Mebuki squealed in excitement as she started clapping with the biggest grin she'd ever made.

"See Sakura, Naruto's in! Can't you see it now, a beautiful wedding?" Mebuki blushed as she closed her eyes while clasping her hands together. "The hero of the village, the war, and son of the Fourth Hokage and student of the Sixth Hokage. Married to the soon-to-be Head Medic of the hospital and student of the Fifth and Sixth Hokage! It's a romance for the legends to come!"

Sakura laid face down on the table, trying her best not to storm off to her old bedroom like when she was younger. Kizashi noticed his daughter's discomfort and decided to step in.

"Well, they are still young, dear. They can take their time and-" stopped talking when Mebuki gave him a look that said he'd be sleeping on the couch that night if he'd said one more word.

Naruto gulped, realizing where Sakura got her temper from. He reached over, rubbing Sakura's shoulder, hoping she wouldn't get angry. Sakura sat straight, her lips pursed with her eyes fixed on her mother's face.

"You played card games with your friends again, weren't you? And they started talking about their married children again, didn't they?" Sakura asked in a serious tone.

Mebuki tried to fain confusion but was failing in front of everyone. "What does that have to do with anything?"

Sakura groaned, shaking her head. "What did you tell them, mom?"

Mebuki rolled her eyes, dropping her act. "I said my daughter is in a serious relationship with her boyfriend. And that I hope to hear plans about wedding bells soon!"

"Mom!" Sakura said exasperatedly. "You said that in front of Ino's mother. Who will tell Ino, who will tell anyone with a pair of ears in the village!"

Mebuki stood up from the table then and slammed her hands on it. "Who do you think you're talking to, young lady? As your mother, I have the right to say these things! I didn't say you were engaged!"

Then, Sakura stood up, slamming her hands on the table and matching her mother's angered expression. They hadn't fought in a long time, but she wasn't about to let her mother bulldoze over Naruto. She drew the line at him.

"Naruto and I's relationship is between the two of us! I don't mean to be disrespectful to you, mom. You're crossing a line that you have no business crossing!"

Mebuki's nostrils flared in a reaction. Sakura knew that she had made a clear point to her mother and that she was in the right. However, that only meant that her mother would double down on her stance.

"If you don't like it, you can just leave!" Mebuki roared.

Sakura laughed once without humor before turning to Naruto, looking up at her wide-eyed now. "Come on; we're leaving!"

He nodded and quickly stood up, looking to Kizashi, who looked at him. They shook hands, both fearful of the grudge match that was occurring. "Good to see you again, Mr. Haruno."

"Likewise, son, have a good night."

"You as well, sir," Naruto said and quickly followed Sakura out of the house, closing the door behind them.

Naruto walked next to Sakura in silence, unsure where they were headed. Walking together like this reminded him of the night they visited the world opposite theirs. Where nothing seemed to make sense, and his parents were alive. He wondered how his parents would react to his relationship with Sakura. His father had the chance to meet Sakura, and although he introduced her as his girlfriend, it wasn't true then. He hoped that his mother would be happy, that he did find a woman like her. If anyone was going to look after him, he knew it was Sakura. How would they feel if they'd announced they were getting married?

Would his mother gossip like Sakura's mother about their relationship? He knew that his father would also cower at her intensive personality if he tried to get her not to talk about their son. And what would Pervy Sage say about all this? He was sure that his godfather would probably be happy for him. But they weren't alive, and he'd only have what if's and passing thoughts. He felt something warm touch his cheek then, and his eyes widened. He stopped walking and looked down at Sakura, who was cupping the side of his face with her hand while her eyes were examining him carefully.

"I'm sorry about tonight, Naruto. I hope we didn't ruin your evening."

Naruto grinned, closing his eyes. "No, you didn't."

"Are you sure?" Sakura asked in disbelief. "I was calling your name a couple of times just now. And you looked so sad. Do you want to talk about what's on your mind?"

He turned to her, staring into her eyes directly. "I promise I'm okay, Sakura." He said a little too quickly. She frowned, crossing her arms over her chest; she could sense some deception in his last answer. He looked down at his feet, sighing before putting his hands in his pockets. "It's not about your parents. I like them a lot."

Sakura let the air she was holding out in relief at hearing that. "I'm glad; they like you a lot too. But I don't want you to always feel like you have to pretend you are okay when you're not. If something is troubling you, whatever it is, you can share it with me. You know that, right?"

"Of course," Naruto said quickly again. "I… Well, I was just thinking about my parents. And how would they react if they knew we had been dating for six months? I bet my mom would've been over the moon too! She probably would've joined your mother in telling others about us, y'know."

Sakura smiled, relieved he was being honest with her. "I'm sure my mom would've loved to have a partner in crime to get us down the aisle. I would just hope I would have their blessing if you asked me. Speaking of which, did you catch wedding fever from Neji and Tenten's ceremony? I noticed you've been bringing up marriage a lot lately.

He blushed as he began rubbing his finger under his nose. "We talked a little about it before… But what are your thoughts about you marrying me?" He asked earnestly, looking at her directly.

"Well, I've been thinking about that a little bit too," Sakura admitted.

Naruto's eyes widened then. "You have!?"

"Yes, Hinata had asked me about it at the wedding. It seems everyone is ready to run us down the wedding aisle. I want it to be when you're ready to ask me. That is if I'm who you want to marry."

Naruto took her hands in his. "It's always been you, Sakura. There isn't anyone else for me. So if I asked, would you marry me!?"

Sakura took a step closer to him. "If you want my answer, you'll have to propose!" She said, quickly kissing him on the lips and jumping back a short distance.

His eyes widened before his eyebrows creased together angrily. "Hey, not fair you can't just get a sneak kiss and run away!"

"I already did slowpoke!" She called and started running away from him.

He quickly started running after hearing her laughter. Knowing that he'd chase her all night long so he could kiss her back.