Chapter 8: Reunion

"Come in!" the Hokage's voice boomed.

Sakura entered the office. At sixteen, almost seventeen years of age, she had changed her uniform. Now she wore a fitted red tank top that complimented her modest curves, and she donned sleek black leggings. Most notably, she had grown out her hair again. While training with Tsuande, she had decided that she didn't need to sacrifice her femininity to be a ninja. She needed to balance it. Now, she kept her waist length pink hair in a tight braid making it much more manageable.

"What is it Tsunade-sama?" Sakura asked politely. Her master smirked and glanced at the window.

"Yo," a familiar voice greeted as the man slid open the window.

"Kakashi-sensei!" Sakura rushed over to hug her sensei who ruffled her hair affectionately.

"You've gotten taller," he noted. She nodded and gave him a bashful smile.

"When did you and Sasuke-kun get back?"

"Just now. You could still catch him at the gates if you leave now." His visible eye crinkled as he suggested, "I'm sure he'd love to see you."

Sakura flushed red and looked at her sensei. "Go ahead Sakura. I've got lots to discuss with Kakashi."

"Thank you Tsunade-sama!" She ducked out the window and bounded away.

"Must you tease her?" the blond asked wryly.

"I've got two years of teasing to make up for," Kakashi responded.

X

There he was. She had longed for this moment every day since he left. The reunion played in her head over and over. Would he be impressed by her growth as a nin? Would he smile? Would he embrace her? Would he find her attractive? She would find out right now.

Sasuke stood by the village entrance talking with one of the guards, his cousin Izumi. She smiled and waved when she saw Sakura.

Her teammate turned slowly to face her, and she could see the changes in him immediately. He was almost a foot taller and towered over her. His build was much more muscular. From his sleeveless white shirt, she could see the corded muscle of his arms and his trim waist. His fitted grey pants displayed his lean powerful legs. His face was now that of a man's, not a little boy. His jawline was sharp and angular, and his eyes were still a smoldering onyx. It took all of Sakura's willpower not to openly gawk at her extremely attractive teammate.

"Sasuke-kun. I'm so glad you're back!" Throwing caution to the wind, Sakura embraced him in a bone crushing hug.

Surprisingly, he patted her back for a few moments. "Ugh, Sakura - can't breathe," he wheezed. She released him.

"I'm sorry! I was excited," she replied nervously.

"Don't worry about it."

Izumi giggled at the pair. Thoughts about the two getting together swirled in her head. Sasuke's dark brooding good looks complimented Sakura's delicate beauty. They would make a fine couple.

"Izumi-chan!" Sakura gasped, embarrassed that her friend had seen their affectionate display.

"You're just too cute Sakura-chan!"

The pink-haired kunoichi laughed nervously.

"Sakura let's leave Izumi to her guard duty. I'll take you to get a snack," Sasuke suggested.

"Sure," she said thankful for the escape from an awkward situation. As the pair left, Izumi waved and decided that maybe Sasuke wouldn't need as much help in the love department as she had thought. He was pretty smooth, but he couldn't beat Itachi.

"Are you back in the village for Itachi-kun's wedding?" Sakura inquired. As far as she knew, she thought that he and Kakashi were due to return to the village a month from now. However, the Uchiha clan moved the wedding up a month.

"Aa. I was hoping to get more training with Kakashi, but the wedding took priority," he explained. As they approached the tea shop, Sakura became quite nervous. He had invited her casually, so it wasn't a date. Right? What if it was a date? Should she let him pay?

A bell rang as they entered the humble establishment. A hostess seated them at a quaint table for two. Sasuke ordered a pot of jasmine tea, Sakura's favorite.

"How have you been Sasuke-kun?"

"Fine. I've been making significant progress on my sharingan and jutsu capabilities. I've also been training with swords." He sipped his tea slowly, savoring the taste.

"That's great! I've been doing some training of my own, with Tsunade-sama."

"I've heard. Medical ninjutsu?"

"Yes. It's extremely rewarding." Sakura glanced around the room. No one was in earshot of the pair.

"How is your…" she whispered looking at his neck.

"It's - manageable. Kakashi found a sealing expert who put a stronger counter seal on it."

She sighed in relief. "I worried about it, but I know Kakashi-sensei would keep you safe."

"Enough about me, what about you?" he said successfully redirecting the conversation.

"Hmmm, where to start," she paused, and her index finger lightly tapped her pink lips. "After you and Naruto left, I asked Tsunade-sama to train me, and she accepted. Ever since, I've been working at the hospital and going on medical missions to allied lands. A year ago, I retook the chunin exams with Ino and Choji. Thankfully, we passed this time around." She laughed lightly.

"How is your mother?" he asked quietly. Her ever present smile faded into a frown.

"She's been getting better, but it's just not the same. We moved because the house had too many memories of Tou-san." She exhaled heavily.

Ever since her father passed away, her mother had been a shell of her former self. Things that excited her couldn't anymore. She rarely laughed much less smiled. Sakura tried to stay strong for her mother's sake, but it became too much sometimes.

"I'm sorry that I wasn't there for the funeral, but - I'm here now if you need anything."

"It's ok you couldn't have known." She looked down at her half empty cup.

Sasuke, Naruto, and Kakashi had left the evening of the Hokage's funeral to train. Her father had passed away several days later from smoke inhalation. Tsuande had notified her team via slug summons. It was hard not having her team around, but Sakura found support elsewhere. She had rekindled her friendship with Ino, and she had found a great friend in Izumi. Her training with Tsuande also gave her a routine and something to strive towards.

"Sasuke-kun," she placed a hand over his, "just being here is enough." He brushed his fingers against hers.

"Only a month and we'll have the whole team back together," Sasuke stated.

She smiled and squeezed his hand. "I can't wait, but there's your brother's wedding first!"

Sasuke retracted his hand and snorted. "Don't remind me."

"Oh come on Sasuke-kun. It won't be so bad. We'll both be there," she contended with a smile.

"I suppose." He placed some money on the table. "I'll see you there," he told her with a smirk.

X

Flowers, place settings, kimonos, and seating arrangements were all things Sasuke was sick of hearing about. He had only been back in the village for a week, and he had been roped into wedding preparations. Naively, he assumed that his wedding responsibilities would end the day of the wedding, but it seemed that he had even more to do like keeping an eye on an irresponsible uncle, assisting visiting guests, and rearranging decorations on top of his 'best man' duties.

The ceremony and seated dinner were finally over, so he could breathe. He quickly located Sakura who sat with the Hokage and her entourage. She wore a pale silk green kimono with gold trimmings. An ivory sash wrapped around her waist, hinting at her hourglass figure beneath the fabric. Seeing her had soothed her a little.

"Rough day?" she asked as he plopped down beside her.

He huffed. "Aa." She passed him a small cup of sake.

Arching his black eyebrow, he accepted it and took a drink.

"If we're old enough to risk our lives for the village, we can indulge in a drink." She took a gulp of her own sake.

"Just don't tell Kaa-san," he said quietly looking across the room to his mother. She was busy chatting with different important guests and completely in her element.

"I won't." She gave him a sly look and added, "only if you'll dance with me for a song."

Taken aback by her unexpected boldness, he accepted. "Sure." He stood up and offered her hand. They wove through tables and guests to the dance floor.

Sasuke placed an arm on her small waist and his other arm on her shoulder. Sakura's found purchase around his neck. The music was all instrumental and slow, performed by a live band.

They swayed slowly in time to the steady rhythm of the song. One song turned into two then three and four. Dancing didn't interest Sasuke, but dancing with Sakura did. He had an excuse to hold her close, feel her soft skin, and take in her natural floral scent.

Sakura felt like she was in a dream. The boy, now man, that she had crushed on for years was dancing with her in front of the entire village, and he seemed to enjoy it. If he didn't like it, he would have left after one song, but he was still with her. His hands were strong and gentle, and his movements graceful. She didn't want the night to end, but it did.

The music stopped, and their bodies untangled themselves.

"Thanks Sasuke-kun, that was -" she trailed off, too embarrassed to say more.

"Fun," he finished for her. "I better go help with the cleanup."

"Of course, yeah," she stammered. "I'll see you around." She waved and ducked out of the Uchiha manor before anyone could question her.

Sasuke couldn't help but snort after she left. Sakura was really cute when she was flustered, he thought as he helped clear the tables.

A hand patted him on the back, as he gathered up navy tablecloths.

"Hey cuz! So you and Sakura-chan…." his cousin Shisui stated with a wolfish grin.

He nearly growled. "What?"

"She's a good choice. Smart, kind, strong, pretty." Sasuke glared at his nosy relative.

"Get to the point," he bit out.

"The elders, among others, are going to start asking you if you're courting," he warned. "You need to be sure about her if you're going to be so obvious about it."

The younger Uchiha stopped what he was doing to look at his cousin. "What do you mean?"

Shisui grabbed his arm and dragged him to an empty garden. "Sakura-chan is a good girl. You don't want her getting mixed up with the clan unless you aren't certain that you want to be with her."

"We were dancing. I don't see what the big deal is," Sasuke retorted.

"Look, things have been changing while you were away. The elders want anyone of age to get married and have kids right away. If they see you've taken an interest in Sakura, they're going to pressure you to settle down." Shisui looked oddly serious. He was the fun cousin who always had a joke to make and a smile to give.

Sasuke frowned. "I don't understand. I'm only 16. Starting a family is the last thing on my mind."

Shisui shook his head. "They're planning something, and they want as many possible Uchiha to populate the clan as soon as possible."

What was his family planning? Why hadn't anyone told him anything in the week he had been home?

Before he could ask any more questions, Shisui left with a word of advice. "I've told you more than I should have, but just be careful."

Then, he was gone. Sasuke tried not to feel angry about his cousin's words. He felt out of the loop, but it couldn't be helped since he had been gone for two and a half years. His brother's wedding had also occupied his family's time and thoughts.

Once Itachi returned from his honeymoon in two weeks, he would speak with him. His father would refuse to talk to him, and his mother would brush it under the rug in an effort to protect him from adult matters.

Until then, he would keep away from Sakura. There would be no reason for them to see one another unless they got called to go on a mission together, but it was unlikely they would be assigned something with Naruto's impending return.

X

He saw the way he looked at her during the wedding. The gears started turning in his mind. There was a way he could use this development to his advantage. He wouldn't have to destroy the Uchiha if they did it themselves.

X

At the end of the month, Naruto returned to the village with his perverted master in tow. After an impressive retest of the bell test, Tsunade assigned Team Seven a mission to Sunagakure.

"The Akatsuki have kidnapped the Kazekage. You'll go to Suna and assist in any necessary way to get him back," Tsunade ordered. "Leave within the hour, and Temari, a Suna ambassador, will meet you along the way. "

"Understood," Kakashi said.
"Wait, who's the Kazekage?" Naruto asked.

"Gaara," Sakura replied with a smile.