Chapter 17

The first few days of travel were uneventful. The party was eager to return to Konoha and warmer weather, so they rested rarely and ate quickly. The first night they'd been forced to take cover because of the chill, but slowly the air became more comfortable and the mornings blended seamlessly into the nights. Snow fell, carried by powerful gusts of wind.

Naruto was unusually quiet. He was missing his wife and excited to see the swell of her stomach after several long weeks away.

Jugo, Karin and Suigetsu spoke of their plans with Orochimaru's hideouts—what he expected of them and how they'd follow through. The trio rarely spoke of anything other than important matters, leaving idle chatter to Sasuke's former teammates.

Sasuke did not talk at all. He was not curt or rude—not like he'd been before. The man simply had nothing to add to the conversation, and, even when prompted, only said what was absolutely necessary.

There was a noticeable silence between him and Sakura–one that everyone decided not to comment on.

Sakura threw her bags on the ground and plopped down on the short, yellow grass. It was nothing like the lush forest of fire country, but it was flora and foliage nonetheless. Sasuke's fire melted a patch that hid under a narrow layer of snow. She flattened her legs, absorbing every itching tickle the blades had to offer.

"Here," Naruto said, throwing the game down beside her. "I caught 'em, you pluck 'em."

Sakura glanced at the birds. "Can't a girl get a break?"

"For once, I'm with you." Karin sighed as she took the feathered animal and started to pluck its feathers. She had been a great help since leaving Frost.

Sakura placed the other bird on her bare legs and glanced at her pale skin. She hadn't been sunkissed in so long, she was a few shades lighter than she'd preferred. And…the pink hairs that covered her thighs and calves were too long for her liking.

"Let's clean these up and sneak off," Sakura whispered to the woman beside her, a hint of mischief in her voice. "I need a few hours to myself."

With a shared grin, they set to work. The other women quickly finished their tasks, their movements hurried but filled with a sense of solidarity. They gathered firewood from the edge of the tree line, inching farther away from the group, the excitement of their little rebellion buzzing in the air. A few large stones nestled in the middle of a slope beckoned to them like sirens calling sailors to shore.

Karin, ever the bold one, stripped off her cropped jacket, leaving on her sleeveless top and shorts. She kicked her boots aside with a carefree flourish and approached the warm boulder, her silhouette painted against the backdrop of the bright sky—a bold statement of freedom. Sakura hesitated for just a moment, considering the chill in the air, but the allure of warmth was too tempting to resist.

Following Karin's lead, she shucked off her boots and gear, leaving on her sleeveless tunic and spandex shorts. With a dramatic flourish, she tossed her skirt onto the ground, the vibrant fabric fluttering like a flag of surrender. The stone welcomed her, its warmth soothing the ache lingering in her stomach and thighs.

Sakura draped herself over the boulder, letting the sun's rays envelop her. She tossed her hair over her shoulder, exposing her back to the heat, closing her eyes as the warmth seeped into her muscles. It felt like an indulgence, a moment stolen from the world around her.

"Can you believe we actually pulled this off?" Karin said, her voice laced with a giddy thrill. "We should do this more often."

Sakura chuckled, the sound light and free. "Absolutely. Just us and the sun, away from all the chaos."

As they lay there, the world around them faded, leaving just the sound of rustling leaves and distant birdsong. In that moment, they were not warriors or caretakers; they were simply two women embracing a fleeting escape, reveling in their camaraderie and the warmth of the sun.

"How long do you think it will take before they notice we're missing?"

"Not long. Especially because they're waiting on us to start the fire…"

Karin scoffed. "I feel like we're doing all of the work."

"Yeah, so what if they hunt the animal? Why do I have to dress it and start the fire?"

The women giggled, but it was cut short when Suigetsu plopped down on the stone between them.

"We kill the game, we cook the game, why are you complaining?"

Sakura peeked from beyond her fringe of hair. "You shouldn't sneak up on women, it's uncouth."

"I could care less if you were two wild pigs. The boulders were calling me, baby."

Sakura sat up and leaned on her elbow, balancing her head with the heel of her hand. She studied the man beside her as he spread out, letting his chin-length spikes fall over his eyebrows. A few sharp teeth peeked out from behind his lips.

"Like what you see?"

"Yes," she admitted. "I was just thinking about dissecting you—you know, to see how you tick."

The man smirked. "Sucks for you, I'm into that. Get a clipboard and a lab coat and take me for a spin."

"A spin in a centrifuge?"

Naruto pulled Sakura's forearm out and caused her head to fall forward. She throws him an annoyed look that he meets with a smile. "What if I was the enemy?"

"I'd kill you." She said simply, sticking out her tongue.

The man propped himself against Sakura's rock and tilted back, angling himself so he could look right up at his teammate. "So, what's going on here? Are we all running away from our jobs to lay around?"

"You caught us." Karin yawned. She raises both hands like she was preparing to be hand-cuffed. "Take me away, officer."

"I'm corrupt," Naruto tossed her wrists away.

Several more minutes of silence passed before Jugo finally arrived. He settled down quietly, a flock of birds settling on his shoulders as if he were their perch. Sakura studied him from behind her pale eyelashes, captivated by the gentle way he stroked the robins and larks that flitted around him.

"You're like a princess, Jugo," she remarked, a playful smile gracing her lips.

He turned to her, a hint of caution in his expression. "I'm not sure what that means."

"A princess, like from a fairytale! Haven't you ever heard of one?" Her enthusiasm bubbled over, but Jugo remained silent, his brow furrowing slightly.

Sakura looked to Naruto for support. "Naruto… you know what I'm talking about, right?"

He shrugged, clearly unfazed.

"What about Suigetsu? Karin…?" She glanced at each of them, hoping for a glimmer of recognition.

When none of them responded, she bit her lip, a wave of realization washing over her. Of course, these orphans hadn't grown up with fairytales; they didn't have adults to guide them or share stories. Feeling a pang of sympathy, she closed her eyes for a moment.

Taking a deep breath, she decided to share the magic of her childhood. With renewed determination, she began reciting from memory all the legends and lore of her home village—the Bamboo Cutter, "Sansukumi," and "Konohanasakuya-hime." As she spoke, her gestures became animated, and she transformed her voice for each character she portrayed, her passion radiating like sunlight.

In that moment, she resembled a children's schoolteacher, weaving a tapestry of stories that danced around them, filling the quiet space with life and wonder. Each tale painted vivid images in their minds, as if she could bridge the gap between their harsh realities and the enchanting world of fairytales.

"So," Suigetsu begins. "The frog gets beaten by the snake—"

"But the snake gets beaten by the slug?" Karin rolled her eyes. "That doesn't even make sense."

Sakura smiled, about to explain where the tradition had stemmed, but Sasuke's dark presence caused a hush over the group. The gig was up. They'd been caught.

"The frog cannot defeat the snake," Sasuke explained. He sat down beside Sakura and her shoulder brushed against his lower arm. It's the closest he'd been to her in days. "The snake cannot defeat the slug,"

"But the slug can't beat up the frog?" Naruto tossed himself back. "That doesn't even make sense."

"Tsunade had no qualms about killing Orochimaru in a second," Sakura says, flashing a flexed arm.

Sasuke looks down at her, leaning closer. "Orochimaru wouldn't have hesitated to harm Jiraiya."

"But, because Tsunade would never really harm Jiraiya…that means the frog defeats the slug?" Naruto asks. "Does this story work the same for us?"

Does this story work the same for us?

The question hung in the air.

Directly across from the campfire, Sasuke took a bite of his bird off the skewer. He watched as Naruto prattled on about something exciting, nodding when expected, frowning otherwise.

Sakura moved her bowl of sugar away from the fire, stirring it with a wooden tongue depressor from her med kit. She uncorked a glass vial of lemon juice and poured a splash into the concoction, gaining the interest of the others sitting around.

When she starts to stand, Karin called out to her. "What is that stuff? Are you going to eat it?"

Brushing off the dirt from her uncovered legs, Sakura smiled at Karin and winked. "No, it's wax. I didn't have to shave in the cold."

"Show me," the redhead demands.

A blush spread across her cheeks as she eyes the others, who all regard her with interest. "Here?"

"It's your legs, not your pussy—you've already got them out."

"Wh—hey! Sheesh, you don't have to be so crude. They're eating. No one wants to see me rip out my leg hair."

"I do," Suigetsu admitted swiftly. "I bet I could make a blanket—"

"Dickhead!" Sakura laughed, tearing up a few blades of grass to throw at him.

Sakura worked a warm ball of wax between her fingers, smoothing it across her outer calf. With a swift motion, the mixture was yanked away, taking with it a clean strip of fine, pink hairs.

"Ta-da," she said, a hint of triumph in her voice.

She helped Karin get started, and soon they were both focusing on their thighs. As Sakura adjusted the fabric of her shorts, Karin followed suit. But Sasuke's attention was elsewhere.

Sakura glanced over at him, catching sight of the three tomoe of his sharingan lazily swirling in his iris. He was feeding the remnants of his meal to the flames, wiping the corner of his mouth with his thumb.

Sakura's gaze lingered as he lifted his eyes from her exposed thigh, swiping his finger over his bottom lip. His tongue flicked out, tasting away the last bits of food. Suddenly feeling exposed, she rose abruptly.

A few rapid blinks caused his red eyes to shift back to black, and he watched as Sakura stumbled away from the group, muttering something about finishing up in Naruto's tent.

"Well, that was odd," Naruto remarked with a shrug.

Writing was one of Sakura's favorite pastimes. Using her flashlight, the woman jotted down page after page of mission details, preparing the report Kakashi would expect on his desk as soon as they arrived at Konoha.

Not long now.

In a spare journal, she scribbled down the events that took place regarding the nomads of Frost. After a few hours, her hand began to hurt and Naruto crawled through the tents opening with heavy lids.

With hardly enough space for one, the man curled into a ball beside Sakura, careful not to rustle any of her work.

"I miss Hinata."

Sakura looked down at him. The normal sunshine of his personality began to dull as soon as they took this mission. "I bet she's due for an examination. You may be able to see the baby's gender. Do you want me to schedule her when I get back?"

Naruto put his arm over his face. "Nope. Her family doesn't allow that."

She could tell from the dejection in his voice that this was really bothering him. Hinata had been struggling with her first trimester, and wanted the care of her sister and guidance of family. Still, it made Naruto feel helpless and uninvolved.

"Would you like to write to her? Let her know you're safe, and will be there soon? Tell her that you miss her."

Passing him her pen and spare paper, she watched as he poured out a lengthy note. Sakura didn't remember seeing his handwriting, but found that it was surprisingly elegant. She'd always thought he was a bit of an artist, though his canvases were…not ideal. For a while, as a little girl, she assumed Konoha hired someone to paint the Hokage Rock every few weeks. The woman smiled at the memory.

Soon, Naruto had curled up beside her, his soft snores harmonizing with the faint chirps of midnight crickets. The gentle sounds felt comforting, a stark contrast to the heavy silence of deep Snow Country. Above them, the leaves rustled softly in the cool night air, a reminder that sleeping on the grass wasn't the wisest choice.

As Naruto's stomach let out a grumbling protest, Sakura decided to escape . She glanced at him, then carefully reached across his sleeping form. With nimble fingers, she snatched Sasuke's cloak, tying it snugly under her chin. A cool breeze tousled her hair as she stepped away, but the warmth of the campfire still lingered, beckoning her closer.

Sakura approached the dying flames, the glow casting flickering shadows across her face. She knelt beside the fire, sifting through the remnants of burnt wood, her hands deftly pushing the unburned pieces toward the center. They had gathered more kindling than they needed, and now she was grateful for it.

With a focused gaze, she arranged a small pyre, her heart quickening with the anticipation of reviving the fire. Her fingers brushed against the fabric of her cloak, searching for the flint. A spark of hope ignited along with the kindling as she prepared to coax the flames back to life.

"Can't sleep?"

Sasuke hadn't expected Sakura to be up at this time of night. They'd traveled hard and he'd come to realize she rather liked sleeping. He ducked under the canvas and whispered to his fire, flaring it to life.

"No…I think I'm just excited to get back home."

Home. Sakura belonged to Konoha, and found comfort in the village that made his chest tight. She was important there, too. There were so many projects she'd started, lots of dreams to fulfill. Sasuke hadn't had ambition in a long, long time. Nothing pure, anyways.

It did not evade him that Sakura refused to look his way. She kept a stern look on the fire at her feet. The buttery glow it cast made Sakura look like a star, shimmering and shining against the black of night.

"Tired of me?"

Sasuke hadn't really meant to ask that. He had thought it, yes, but as it seems with many of his thoughts about Sakura…it was best they remained within. Still…every so often, the smallest gesture or the sweetest of looks would set Sasuke ablaze. It was getting harder to avoid her, to ignore that she'd become a woman faster than he'd become a man.

"Me? Get rid of you? It's the other way around," she offered him a quick peak. "I just prefer warmer weather. Unless I'm inside reading with a blanket around my shoulders. Oh!"

Standing, Sakura rushed into her shared tent and came out a few seconds later with a letter. "Would you mind getting Sumukha to take this to Konoha?"

Sasuke took it from her. He did not recognize the address. "You know his name?"

Sitting once more, Sakura gathered her covering closer to her body. "...I summoned one of my slugs to find out. I thought it was rude to just keep calling him Sasuke's hawk."

The air got hotter as he took his place beside her. Biting his thumb, Sasuke prepares to call his animal forth. The bird popped up in a puff, shuffling around on its feet as it surveyed the area. Repeating the address, Sasuke offered his arm to his summon and placed the letter in its open talon.

Sakura watches as he shifts upwards, helping the hawk rise quickly into the darkness of the night.

A second later, Sasuke continued their previous conversation. "What do you read?"

Laughing dryly, Sakura scratches the back of her head. "I promise, you won't find it interesting."

Sasuke does not seem deterred. Sakura moved her knees closer to her chest, thankful she was hidden under his coat.

"Well…my most recent book was about the tribespeople we just came in contact with. It's where I learned some of their language. I'll be publishing a follow up on what transpired today, and I'll be sure to send you a copy."

"That man kissed you." The evenness of his tone was expected, but the furrow of his eyebrow was not.

Sakura blushed , remembering his lips on hers. "Yes. Well, yes and no. It is a sign of respect. He was the chieftain and I asked if I would be allowed to bring a party of people here again to make sure no more anomalies bothered them."

"And that was his answer?"

"You should be thankful you hadn't asked. They don't care about gender norms."

Sasuke leaned forward. "It wouldn't be the first boy I've kissed."

Sakura's giggle rang out like a melody, light and infectious. Her eyes widened with surprise, and she instinctively clamped a hand over her mouth to stifle the sound, but Sasuke found himself wanting to hear more. Without thinking, he reached out, gently grasping her wrist and pulling it away, revealing the bright smile that lit up her face.

In that moment, the amusement dancing in Sasuke's eyes reminded her of their genin days—a time when he wore a haunted expression as his default, and his smiles rarely reached the depths of his gaze. But there were flashes of joy, fleeting moments that broke through—usually sparked by Naruto's antics or Kakashi's un-ninja-like behavior.

He was breathtakingly beautiful in those rare instances, a perfect blend of vulnerability and strength that replayed in Sakura's mind like a cherished memory. Her heart raced as she tucked her lips between her teeth, casting her gaze downward, gathering the courage to speak.

"I've been snappy with you lately," she began, her voice barely above a whisper. "I'm sorry for that. I… I feel more emotional than I ever remember being."

With her wrist still in his hand, Sasuke gave it a gentle squeeze. "You've…had a lot of unexpected things happen."

Sakura turned back towards the fire. She was grateful he hadn't matched the pitiful energy she'd been putting out. She moved towards him, heart thrumming and laid her head on his shoulder.

They sit there, quietly, as the curls and sparks of amaterasu danced. As if testing him, Sakura inched her foot closer to the heat, watching in awe as it parted for her. "I don't think I'll ever get used to that. How does it know?"

"Amatersu carries out my will."

She shifted her head to look up at him, saying, "Because it is not in your will to hurt me, it won't?" but the words slowly faded.

Sasuke is already looking at her in his paralyzing, intense way. He ran his thumb across her inner wrist. "Do you want me to prove it?"

Her body reacted swiftly. She straightened her spine and removed herself from his proximity as soon as the words tumbled out. "Oh! Oh I didn't—Well, not that I wouldn't—"

Sasuke pressed his palm gently over her mouth, a silent plea for quietude. His gaze flickered toward the neighboring tents, scanning for signs of stirred slumber among their peers. Satisfied that the night remained undisturbed, he rose with a fluid grace and beckoned for Sakura to follow.

A thick knot formed in her throat as she stood, her heart racing with uncertainty. Each step felt heavy with unspoken fears, and she wondered if it could endure the consequences of yet another impulsive decision. Night wrapped around them like a shroud, filled with the whispered promise of secrets yet to be unveiled.

A/N: Howdy. I hope ya'll are liking my story. Please, review! I'm a person who thrives on praise and works hard to do better. Let me know how. (: