AUTHOR'S NOTE

In case you're wondering why I've changed the story rating from T to M, it's purely for anticipated romance/spice. :O The level of violence will likely remain around T & be comparable to what we see in Naruto canon.

Enjoy chapter 4!

Chapter 4

Sakura's team's evening stop was at a town nestled just inside the boarder of Fire Country and less than a day's travel to Konoha. Given this proximity, it was very much a commuter's destination, with most of its buildings being inns and shops catered to tourists. Konoha ninjas and travellers frequented the place for one last rest before the home stretch, just as Sakura and her entourage were doing.

They'd arrived just as the sun was setting, blanketing most of the little town in shadows from the rows of buildings and looming trees surrounding its outskirts.

Sakura's squad was positively exhausted when they arrived, perhaps a residual effect of their prolonged period at the hot springs earlier that day, but especially because of their weeks on the road.

Sakura herself was drained upon their arrival, but not for such straightforward reasons.

Despite her best efforts to focus and chart the course of their evening travels, throughout the entirety of their journey, Sakura's mind had been a battlefield.

Agreeing to stay with Sasuke would have been a reckless, preposterous, and irresponsible choice, and there was no reason for Sakura to doubt her resolve to turn him down.

With her clinic on the verge of financial collapse, every facet of Konoha's medical system supported by her own two hands, and her squad depending on her protection for the last leg of their trek, it was her duty to move along. To forget his offer. To see her run-in with him as nothing more than old friends catching up over drinks.

It was her duty to get back to reality.

If Sakura wanted a ninja adventure, she'd have to wait until her career was settled and her clinic was self-sustaining.

And if Sasuke wasn't okay, if he needed her, well, he would have to wait because the village needed her too.

They hadn't said goodbye after all, so they'd see each other again, one day, and maybe under better circumstances.

What was another year of letters?

Through blurry eyes, Sakura stared down at the hotel room keys in her hand that she had just collected for her squad.

She released a slow breath, an effort to quell her untimely heart palpitations, and blinked and blinked until her eyes were dry and ready to face the world again.

"Wait, Sakura Haruno? Hold on a moment. I have something for you."

Sakura whirled around to find the elderly woman with short, curly white hair at the inn's reception desk rummaging around for something.

"For me?" Sakura repeated, her eyebrows drawing together when the receptionist handed her a scroll dawning the colours and insignia of an official correspondence from Konoha.

In a stupor, Sakura thanked the receptionist, pocketed the scroll, met her squad by the inn's entrance to distribute their keys and dismiss them for the night, then retreated to her own room, all while her mind raced in circles.

There were very few others who knew the route of Sakura's journey, with Kakashi being the only person aware of precisely when she would be in each town. So this letter ought to be from him.

But what did the Hokage need to inform her of that couldn't wait one more day?

Her pulse quickened as she fumbled to lock the hotel room door behind her, pulled off her gloves, and hastily unfurled the scroll.

Relief washed over her at the familiar, dreadful penmanship.

Dear Sakura-chan, it began, and Sakura's lips curved of their own accord, her mind flooded with images of her dearest friend forcing himself to sit still long enough to write an entire letter.

I broke three of our new house decorations so Hinata-chan asked Kakashi-sensei to send me on a mission. I'm leaving today.

Sakura choked out a laugh as unwelcome moisture returned to her eyes.

I wanted to tell you something before you left for your medical trip thing but I forgot. And now I'm leaving and won't see you for awhile, so I got your location from Kakashi-sensei and am writing it instead. Even though I HATE WRITING. You're welcome. :)

Sakura's chest tightened as she began pacing the room, without bothering to remove her shoes.

Well, what I wanted to say is… I was thinking about how to repay you for helping us move. But I didn't know what to get cuz I don't think you need more stuff. Or more anything. I think you need less.

I can see you are really tired these days. You are doing so much for the village and for the world and it's kind of amazing. But it's hard to watch you like this, Sakura-chan, always alone and stressed.

Sakura turned away momentarily so the stray tear tracing down her cheek didn't land on the letter and blot the ink.

Have you thought of taking a break? I dunno, a vacation, or just a long nap, or something? Please consider it, Sakura-chan, even if it's just a little one. Kakashi-sensei owes me like fifty favours over the years of being his most perfect student, so I will call them in and make sure you're covered with your work stuff.

Let's catch up over ramen when we're both home. My treat, unless I forget my wallet? ;)

Anyways, I'm gonna stop because that's the most words I've written since the Chūnin Exams… JUST KIDDING. I DIDN'T WRITE A SINGLE WORD FOR THE EXAMS! HAHA!

Okay bye and take care of yourself Sakura-chan!

Love,

The Legend and Future Hokage,

Naruto

When Sakura lowered the letter, she found herself before the window on the opposite end of the hotel room, having paced there absent-mindedly.

She watched a young ninja squad racing through the streets with their sensei on their tail, perhaps causing some mischief during one of their first missions. Sakura smiled as one of the kids dramatically re-enacted some kind of battle maneuver she might have used earlier that day, or perhaps wished she had.

Sakura's eyes lingered on the kid's thrilled expression while snippets of Naruto's letter bounced around in her mind.

He wanted her to take a break, huh?

Too bad it wasn't that simple.

And what would taking a break even look like? The prospect of puttering around her apartment or doing leisure exercise or meditating somehow felt even more daunting than working. No, Naruto was wrong; a break wasn't what she needed.

Sakura caught a glimpse of her tired reflection in the window, cast in the warm hues of sunset. Her green eyes shimmered. And the diamond on her forehead stood proudly, prominently, capturing her attention, while another voice echoed in her mind.

You don't belong there.

You're a ninja.

Unfortunately, after a sleepless night of tossing and turning, Sakura felt no more at peace with her response to Sasuke or closer to figuring out how to follow Naruto's advice.

Maybe it was best she just hurried home, to where her familiar and gruelling routines wouldn't spare her enough time to stress or lose sleep over this.

Maybe she'd be better off pretending none of this had ever happened.

In an exhausted haze, at the designated place just outside of the inn, donning her signature red combat dress, black shorts under the weapons pouch around her thigh, and black waistband with her pack secured at its back, Sakura met her squad for a final briefing and headcount before hitting the road.

She had to redo her mental headcount three times before she was certain she'd gotten it right. And there were only five of them.

It was going to be a long day.

"Forehead!"

Sakura startled as her best friend, Ino, leaped down from a nearby rooftop with her fiancée, Sai, in tow.

She bristled with excitement at the familiar faces. "Didn't realize you two were on a mission," Sakura remarked, smirking, then asking her squad to standby for a few extra minutes before their departure.

The duo approached, Ino in a signature indigo ensemble consisting of a sleeveless, cropped shirt and matching skirt, and her long, blond hair cascading down her back. Sai was his usual pale and polished self, wearing all black and a look of dreamy contentedness Sakura had come to realize he often wore in the presence of his soon-to-be wife.

"Nah, we're actually just running an errand. Met with a wedding florist in a nearby town," Ino explained.

Sakura raised her eyebrows. "I find it hard to believe you won't be your own florist, you know, with owning Konoha's most popular flower shop and everything."

Ino smiled and shrugged. "What can I say? I've got specific tastes and we can't grow everything at home."

Sakura couldn't fathom what extravagant floral display her friend had brewing.

But then Ino's ice blue eyes met Sakura's and her demeanor instantly changed, her smile dropping.

Sakura swallowed a lump in her throat, feeling vulnerable under the scrutiny of a person who tended to read her like an open book, and who also happened to be a mind-manipulation specialist.

"Let's take a walk, Sakura."

"Wait, no. I can't. They –"

Ino followed the direction of her gaze to the squad, who were chatting amongst themselves and sipping coffee.

"Sai, my dear, stay with Sakura's team for a few minutes, would you? We'll be right back."

"Of course," he answered, smiling sweetly.

Before Sakura could form any other words of protest, Ino was tugging her away by the arm.

Despite Sakura's attempts to free herself, from a combination of Ino's persistence and Sakura not having much fight in her this morning, Ino managed to drag her around the corner of the neighbouring building to a secluded spot out of earshot from the others.

She gripped onto Sakura's other arm and stood squarely in front of her, giving Sakura no where to look but Ino's face. Sakura could tell by the crease between Ino's eyebrows exactly what her ever-perceptive friend was about to ask.

"Something's wrong. What happened?"

Sakura swallowed. Her first instinct was to dismiss Ino's concern, shove down her feelings, and wait for another time, when she was home and settled, to open up.

But Ino had a way of getting into her head with those piercing eyes alone, without even using any of her prized jutsus.

And then there was the ache, the pang of gratefulness, from seeing how determined her lifelong friend was to make sure she was okay.

So, Sakura told her. Everything.

From the surprise assault on her squad, to her impromptu lunch with Sasuke, her rejection of his offer to join his journey, to her restless night of sheer emotional turmoil.

Ino was uncharacteristically silent throughout the entire retelling, save the occasional gasp or "Oh shit!" or "You didn't!"

Say what you want about Ino, she was one hell of an audience to share a story with.

When she finished, Sakura released a long breath, while directing her gaze to their feet. "So, uh… that's it."

"That's it, huh?" Ino asked, smiling disbelievingly and finally releasing Sakura's arms. "Talk about a work trip you won't forget. I thought you were going to say you hooked up with a stranger or something. But this is so much better."

"Ino!" Sakura groaned while shoving her lightly. "But is this better? I think I'm more stressed and confused than I've been my whole life."

Ino folded her arms. "Oh, but this isn't confusing at all. It's simple: You regret turning Sasuke down."

Sakura gaped around like what Ino was saying was utter madness. "No, of course I –"

"And you're going after him."

Okay, now Sakura knew Ino was spewing utter madness.

"Ino, you know I can't!"

But Ino just cocked an eyebrow. "Can't you?"

Sakura's blood boiled at Ino's indifference towards her situation. Uprooting her entire life to go on a journey she knew almost nothing about and for an unknown amount of time was no small matter.

"Like, I've got my squad here," Sakura continued. "We even got ambushed yesterday and I can't just leave them unprotected!"

Ino appeared unfazed. "Well, coincidentally, me and Sai are headed the same way. We can take them from here."

"But… the mission report! I have to update Kakashi-sensei but won't have time to –"

"Last time I checked, paper and pens were portable. And I think you know a thing or two about sending letters."

Sakura stared at Ino, feeling a combination of rage and amazement at her easy deflection of Sakura's concerns.

Yes, technically, Sakura could write out the medical tour's mission report on the road. It wasn't like the trip had been an S-ranked assignment or anything. Surely, Kakashi could wait just a few days to receive it…

Wait, what am I doing?

Sakura caught her hopeful train of thought and forced it to a screeching halt. Because her concerns didn't only stem from this medical tour.

"Ino, seriously, I have to go home. I mean, what about my hospital shifts? The board meetings?"

But her friend merely shrugged.

"Your shifts can be covered. And I'm sure over a few drinks I can persuade Tsunade-sama to stand in for you at the board meetings."

Sakura's stomach twisted at how easy Ino was making all of it sound. But dangling this adventure of a lifetime in her face and egging on an impossible dream was nothing short of cruel.

She reached for Ino's wrist and pleaded, "But Ino, my clinic. You know it's hanging by a thread. I've got a grant application deadline coming up, and if I don't write it now, if we don't get it, I might lose everything."

But, again, Ino was quick to counter. "Remember what I just said about paper and pens?"

The hurt and confusion must have been written on Sakura's face, because Ino's expression softened as she laced her fingers through Sakura's.

"I care about the clinic too you know. But even more than that, I care about you and I know I'm not the only one who does. I promise, we won't let it fall apart, and if anything comes up we can't handle, I'll write you." She gave Sakura's hand a squeeze.

Moisture collected in Sakura's eyes. While each of Ino's rebuttals felt like a blow, at the same time, they were chipping away at the invisible weight Sakura carried, sliver by sliver.

She didn't doubt Ino's resolve to help her make this work, and yet…

"Ino, you know I could never ask so much of you. Not now. You're engaged and busy with wedding planning. You don't have time for this."

Ino snorted. "What, and you do have time? You know, if I didn't know how crazy your work is, I would have thought you were blowing me off half the time I try to make plans with you. You're the one who never has time for anything! I think this is the most we've talked in months, you know, and you're technically on the clock right now!"

Sakura opened her mouth to protest, but her conviction was giving way to newfound confusion and guilt.

Really? She'd convinced herself that her friends were the busy ones, with getting married, and moving, and settling down, and starting their own lives.

But was that how her friends felt about her? Was she the one pushing them out?

"Let me put it this way, Sakura: It's hard to watch you drowning like this to save a mental health clinic, of all things. Just a little break from it can't hurt, you know?"

Sakura's heart stuttered.

It's hard to watch you like this, Sakura-chan, always alone and stressed.

She released a slow breath.

You don't belong there.

With one last squeeze, Ino released Sakura's hand and levelled her with a hard look. "Look, I won't tell you what to do. It's your life. And I'll support you either way. But if you're going after him, he's only going to get harder to find the longer you stand around here."

Sakura stared at Ino, who had just masterfully debunked all of her excuses. Her brain raced in circles and her heart swelled. Now, she was clean out of them.

And had nothing left but a choice to make.

She swallowed and directed her gaze to the forest behind them, where dew drops winked in the bright morning sun, the breeze softly tugged, and branches swayed in a silent call.

Deep down, Sakura knew she was about to make one of the most exhilarating, heart-driven, unplanned, and stupid decisions of her entire life.