All these years, the only thought that gently warmed her insides was that she would get Sasuke-kun to notice her. Not as something he needed to protect, but as a woman who could love and care him. She had hated the girl who had spread the rumour that Sasuke-kun's ideal type of girl was one with long hair, pretty, strong and confident because she had ensured that she passed every single criteria , yet the most she had ever received from him had been
"Hn. Annoying."
The idea of being together with Sasuke had become almost impossible when he had decided to leave the village for revenge. When the news hit her, she had spent days mourning over his absence. But instead of hating him for everything, her love and attachment towards Sasuke had only doubled. No matter how many times Ino laughed and deemed her love for him as a childish quest, she would never agree to that.
Over the years, she tried to be the perfect woman anybody would want. She worked hard to excel in every field. Whenever she felt she couldn't go more, she would think about the day Sasuke will come back to Konoha and acknowledge her efforts. The thought of impressing him had made her to achieve even the impossible. She went on to become Lady Tsunade's apprentice and took up the intense training for years. Following in her master's footsteps, she growed stronger, inevitably surpassing Tsunade in medicine and strength.
She wasn't the same little Sakura who used to rely on Naruto, Sasuke or Kakashi for help and watch their battles from sidelines. Now she could proudly say who she was because she had an identity that the world knows.
The cherry-haired girl smiled at her musings as she ran over the streets of Konoha. A few minutes ago at the hospital, when one of her patients told her that he saw the former missing-nin walking through the city market, her joy knew no bounds that she had quickly raced over to see him.
Ever since Sasuke had been released by the Konoha Council, he would never come out of his house. No matter how many times, she and Naruto would try to find him, he would always escape from them or rather escape from her.
Panting, she smiled at the handsome sight before her.
The cool air blew her pink strands as she approached the only man she had waited for all these years.
"Sasuke-kun"
Sasuke stopped in his tracks, puzzled as to why she was here. She was the last one he had wanted to see.
Her emerald eyes crinkled with a smile as they met his like she'd been expecting him all along.Those pink bangs were swept off to the side, kept in place by a red headband and her hair was shorter than the last time he saw her. Sakura always looked like a walking cherry blossom tree to him.
Hesitantly, Sasuke pushed his thoughts aside as she approached towards him and Naruto.
"Sasuke-kun." Her voice practically sang the words, the loving melody proving how joyed she was to see him.
"Sakura," he acknowledged. Even before he could ask why she was here, the stupid dobe beat him to it.
"Where the hell have you been, Sakura-chan?!" Naruto asked. "I was starting to think that you were gonna ditch us!"
"I had to finish up some work at the hospital," Sakura replied and raised a accusing finger at the blonde teammate. "Not all of us run around doing whatever we want without regard to anything else."
Naruto pretended to lightly smack Sasuke's back, when the later glared back.
"No need to be so mean, Sakura-chan!" He crossed his arms and puffed his cheeks like a child. "Besides, that sounds like you're describing Sasuke, not me. He is the one who walks around with a stick up his ass and does things without any regard."
Sasuke's eye twitched at the accusation. "You better not make me repeat the same thing that happened ten minutes ago."
The Uzumaki winced remembering the painful punch he got from Sasuke.
Sakura laughed looking at Naruto's constipated face to which Sasuke arched his eyebrows.
A blush rose to her cheeks and she looked away from him as she tucked a lock of pink hair behind her ear. His handsome face was too much to handle for her little heart.
"I thought maybe we all should go for a lunch together. What do you say Naruto?".
Naruto jumped up in the air as Sakura proposed the idea. " Yes, Sakura-chan. I have been waiting for our team re-union lunch. I cant wait to celebrate, isn't it Sasuke-teme?"
Sasuke inwardly groaned as his teammates made stupid reunion plans. He didn't sign up for this shit but the more he resists, the more he will have the dobe behind his back. So he decided to go with them only for this one time.
"Hn"
Sakura was dejected as Naruto didn't get the hint exactly. She had wanted to have a lunch date with Sasuke but this idiot here wanted to have lunch with them. She mentally facepalmed herself for having great expectations from Naruto.
She didn't want Naruto to tag along but Sasuke would only come if Naruto was there. A smile etched on her face as an idea struck her.
"Say Sasuke-kun, Can we have one more person come along with us to the lunch? It would be fun to be in pairs."
Even before Sasuke could react to her legendary idea, Naruto replied, "That's right Sakura Chan. More the number, More is the fun."
Sakura was on cloud nine and for once she thanked the gods for making Naruto understand her plan. She was happy that now she could get a chance with Sasuke but she had to think about the girl who will be tagging along with Naruto.
If Ino tagged along then her dream of having a date with Sasuke will be impossible. She could just imagine what would happen if Ino pig would come.
'Sasuke-kunnnn, I was waiting all these years for you to take me out on a date. A handsome man like you needs a beautiful and stunning women like me. This selfish forehead had kept you away from me but in the end we will be together forever. '
The thought of Ino-pig blabbering all that and latching on to Sasuke's arm, her head resting on his chest and she feeding him with ice-cream and cakes made Sakura want to jump of a cliff.
No.. No matter what Ino-pig should not come wih them. Otherwise that blonde witch will have Sasuke all to herself.
Then, there was Tenten. Tenten was not like Ino so she shouldn't be afraid but still Tenten doesn't get along with them. The brown-haired girl was extremely blunt and honest when it came to things like this.
Sakura felt that Tenten would most likely pick an argument with Sasuke and he would walk out eventually.
Then the last one who was left was Hinata. The blue haired girl was soft spoken, polite and always looked at Naruto.
'Perfect '
Hinata Chan could draw Naruto's attention from them and it wouldn't disturb her and Sasuke's date. Sakura smiled happily as she found a mind-boggling plan.
"But Sakura Chan, I don't think Kakashi Sensei would be free today for lunch."
Naruto said while running his hand through his hair.
Sakura nodded while thinking about her plans but froze when she heard the name 'Kakashi'.
"Naruto, Why would you want Kakashi Sensei to come to lunch with us?"
"Sakura Chan, It's a team 7 meet and you said we need to be in even numbers."
For once in his entire life, Sasuke wanted to praise Naruto for being this dumb.
He was contented to find Sakura look like she couldn't help but go and bang her head somewhere.
Sakura regretted praising Naruto. She felt like punching his face but she controlled herself because Sasuke was standing here too. She didn't want Sasuke to see her burst like a volcano.
"Naruto, I was not talking about Kakashi Sensei, Why don't we get a girl to tag along?"
"I don't think it's needed, Sakura. I'm not interested in stupid lunch plans", Sasuke said before Sakura goes on.
"But Sasuke-kun, We need to go for a lunch. It's been years since we have gathered. I wanted a girl to tag along because it would be nice if there were two boys and two girls."
"Come on Teme, Stop making Sakura Chan sad. What are you going to lose if you come for one lunch with us, Sasuke?", Naruto said narrowing his eyes at Sasuke.
Sasuke turned his head away from Naruto.
'Sanity, Hn '
"Sakura Chan, Don't mind teme. Even if I have to beat the shit out of him, I will bring him for lunch. So who are you going to bring ?"
"How about Hinata Chan? I'll ask her when she is free and then we all can go for an awesome lunch." Sakura said cheerfully.
The name 'Hinata ' had made both Naruto and Sasuke freeze.
Sakura watched Naruto's face turn blank when she mentioned the Hyuga girl. It was then she regretted it. She cursed herself for being inconsiderate about Naruto. She had only thought about herself and Sasuke.
"Naruto, I-I am .."
Naruto looked at Sakura and smiled slightly as he could see her sad.
"But it's been so long Naruto, you shouldn't..." Sakura couldn't continue as Naruto interrupted her, " You shouldn't worry Sakura Chan."
For the first time in his life, Sasuke felt like he was a stranger to them. No, a stranger to Naruto. He knew something had happened with him and Hinata but the fact that Naruto chose to keep it hidden from him, hurted a bit.
He didnt know why his chest tightened.
Was it seeing Naruto hide something from him or that Hinata was involved in it?
Naruto looked at Sasuke as he felt those black orbs gaze at him. He knew Sasuke's questioning look but chose not to address it. He didn't want to as the sight of Hinata and Sasuke earlier didn't sit right with him.
Sakura noticed the tension between Sasuke and Naruto. She didn't understand why Naruto was reluctant to talk to Sasuke of all people. Further, she didn't miss the way Sasuke's face looked conflicted when she mentioned Hinata's name. Sakura feared something is wrong.
Even before Naruto could walk away, Sakura caught his arm and spoke trying to cheer him up, "Naruto, Everything is going to be alright."
Those blue eyes looked up at the sky as he shaked his head and walked away from her, " No Sakura Chan. Sometimes, fate of our lives is beyond our plans and we are bound to accept it."
Sakura watched Naruto disappear into the crowd so did Sasuke turn back and walk away. She had a gut feeling, all this had something to do with Hinata.
The pink haired girl sighed. She watched
Sasuke walk away and decided to follow him but the latter abruptly stopped walking.
"Sakura, I want to be alone."
"But Sasuke-kun, I want to..." Her words were cut short because of his crystal clear look. Sakura stood their watching him walk away. He was so near yet so far to her.
Sasuke reached his apartment and found a letter in his lonely mailbox. The letter apparently was an invitation from the Yamanaka clan to attend the birthday party of that blondie.
No clans, no people dared to invite him to functions yet this one had the audicity to sent him a letter that had ended with
.
.
.
Sasuke-kun, do come for the party. I'll will be waiting for you.
Your one and only precious,
Ino Yamanaka
Sasuke gritted his teeth reading the end. He opened his door and threw the letter on the table as a myriad of thoughts ran through his head.
For now, what he needed was freedom from the council and its restrictions. He has to attend the function for it will be a chance to meet that Hyuga to know further developments.He would go to any extent to achieve what he wants.
Even if it was marraige to the Hyuga for convenience . Even If she had something to do with Naruto.
Sasuke closed his eyes as he stood in his balcony, feeling the strong winds blowing.
In the end
What are we going to gain?
or rather
What are we going to lose?
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I have added 2 paragraphs extra at the end. Please read, this is an edited version
Author's Note :
2k chapter*
Thank you for all the precious reviews. I'm sorry for keeping you all waiting for the next chapter. My exams are going to start and I have a huge syllabus to complete. Kindly expect slow updates.
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