The morning sun filtered through the windows, casting soft light on the wooden floor of the inn. Sasuke sat on the edge of his bed, staring down at his hands. He hadn't slept a wink, the weight of his actions from last night pressing heavily on his chest. The sting of his words to Sakura still lingered in his mind, and the silence that had followed felt deafening.
'I was an idiot...' he thought bitterly.
His jealousy had taken over, clouding his judgment. His thoughts circled back to her laughter, the way it had sounded when Kaito made those jokes. The way she'd smiled, so freely and unguarded. It should have made him happy to see her so at ease, but instead, it had twisted into something ugly inside him.
He stood up, pushing the lingering regret aside as best as he could. A quick wash, some fresh clothes, and maybe—just maybe—he could begin to undo some of the damage he'd caused. His feet carried him automatically down the stairs, each step heavier than the last.
When he reached the breakfast area, he spotted her immediately.
Sakura sat at a table in the far corner, the delicate clink of her chopsticks against her bowl the only sound. She was alone, her expression unreadable as she quietly picked at her food. Sasuke's heart skipped. He felt a flicker of hope, but it quickly faded as he approached.
"Sakura," he said softly, his voice quieter than usual.
She didn't look up. Her chopsticks paused midair, and for a moment, the silence between them was thick. Her shoulders remained tense, and she continued eating without a word.
Sasuke's brow furrowed. He stood there, waiting for her to acknowledge him, but the seconds dragged on, the weight of her silence bearing down on him. Finally, she spoke, her voice cool, distant.
"Eat quickly," she said, her tone sharp but controlled. "We need to leave soon."
Sasuke's heart sank at the lack of warmth in her words. He had expected—no, hoped—for something more. A glance. A sign that she wasn't too angry to even look at him. But nothing came.
'Of course you idiot. After all the things you've done you can't expect her to always forgive you so easily. Even one word she said was too much.' He said to himself.
The air between them felt like a chasm, one that he had caused. He swallowed, the words caught in his throat.
"We're heading to see the patients today, right?" Sasuke said, trying to keep his voice steady.
Sakura's gaze finally met his, though it was brief. Her eyes were guarded, her lips pressed into a thin line. "Yes." She nodded, but the tension between them was palpable.
The silence stretched on, stretching his nerves thin. He hated this. He hated seeing her so distant, so cold.
"Sakura…" he started again, his voice softer, almost pleading. "I know I messed up. I—"
She cut him off, her voice steady but firm. "We don't have time for this right now." Her eyes flickered to the clock on the wall. "We need to check in on the patients, remember?"
Her words were like ice, and Sasuke felt his chest tighten. She wasn't angry—not in the way he had expected—but her coldness hit him harder than any yelling could have. He could see it in the way her hands moved mechanically, in the way she no longer looked at him the way she used to.
He couldn't say anything more, couldn't find the words to undo what he'd done. His gaze dropped to his bowl, his appetite nonexistent.
Sakura finished her meal in silence, the only sound now the faint scrape of her chopsticks. When she was done, she placed the bowl down neatly and stood up, gathering her things.
"I'll meet you outside," she said, walking past him without another glance.
Sasuke sat frozen for a moment, the heaviness in his chest almost unbearable. I need to fix this. I need to make it right… But how? How could he make her believe he was truly sorry when his actions spoke louder than any apology could?
The day had gone smoothly, the air full of the warm, pleasant hum of people recovering. From one house to another, Sakura checked on her patients—old villagers who had started the new treatment she had developed. Each visit was met with gratitude and hope, and Sakura beamed with pride every time she saw the results of her hard work.
Sasuke stood just outside each house, quietly observing. He was still trying to adjust to the steady flow of people and the endless chattering, but he was content to watch Sakura in her element. She was so at ease, so happy, and that made everything feel... right. She deserved this.
While she chatted with another patient inside, Sasuke's phone buzzed in his pocket. The sound made him frown—he was still getting used to this strange little device, especially the whole "calling" thing. He had always relied on letters for communication, and the idea of talking into a small box just felt odd to him.
He pulled the phone out hesitantly, tapping the screen to answer, his eyes already on Sakura.
"Yeah?" he said, his tone more guarded than usual.
It was Itachi on the other end, his voice calm as ever. "Sasuke. How are you? We haven't spoken since you left."
"We're fine. Sorry I didn't call you, I'm not used to this idea of phone calls." Sasuke said, and Itachi laughed at this knowing his little brother's nature.
"How are you? Everything okay?" Sasuke asked.
"Everything is fine here don't worry. How's the mission going? You keeping an eye on Sakura?"
Sasuke's eyes darted to the open door, where Sakura was laughing at something the patient had said. "Yeah, it's fine. Everything's going well."
Itachi chuckled. "Good. I'm glad to hear it. So, you two are... working well together?"
Sasuke stiffened. "Why wouldn't we be?"
Before Itachi could respond, a loud, distinct scream pierced the air. "Itachi! Give me the phone this instant!"
Sasuke blinked. Was that... their mother?
"Of …course." Itachi's voice faltered for the briefest second.
There was a shuffling sound, then a click, and suddenly Mikoto's warm voice came through the phone. "Sasuke, dear. I need to talk to you."
"M-Mother?" Sasuke stammered, taken off guard. "Hi… What—how—"
"I know what you did, Sasuke. Don't think I didn't hear about it," Mikoto said in a tone that was far too knowing for comfort. "I heard it in her voice this morning... and last night too. Sakura's upset with you, and I want to know what the hell you messed up."
"Huh?"
"Don't huh me young man!"
Sasuke's mind went blank. How does she know about that? His hand tightened around the phone. He glanced over at Sakura's back, suddenly feeling exposed. "H-how do you know about that?"
"Sweetheart, it's obvious. You've been acting like an idiot lately. Don't think I didn't discover these letter problems when you were in Oto. And I know my daughter-in-law well enough to hear it in her voice that you upset her again." Mikoto's voice softened.
"Mother, Sakura isn't your daughter-in-law yet," Itachi was heard saying with a laugh.
"You shut up, I'll deal with you as soon as I hang up the phone with Sasuke,"
Mikoto sighed dramatically, as if this was the most troublesome thing in the world. "Now listen carefully, Sasuke. You'd better go make things right. I don't care how you do it, but if you don't, not only will you have to face her wrath—but you'll have to face mine too. And trust me, you do not want to deal with me."
Sasuke felt a chill run down his spine at the thought of his mother's anger. He had never seen her truly upset, but the mere tone in her voice now was enough to make him squirm.
"Make her feel good, Sasuke," Mikoto continued. "And if you upset her again, you will deal with me. Understand?"
Sasuke stood frozen for a moment, holding the phone as if it were a hot stone. "I... I understand," he muttered, completely thrown off balance.
"Good," Mikoto said with a satisfied tone. "Now go be a good boy and fix things. I'll be expecting an update later. Have fun!"
With that, she hung up without another word.
Sasuke stared at the phone in his hand, unsure of what had just happened. 'Mikoto? Threatening me?'
He put the phone away, taking a deep breath to collect himself. 'How the hell am I supposed to fix this?' He glanced at the door again, and there she was—Sakura, stepping out and walking toward him with a smile on her face.
She raised an eyebrow, noticing his frozen state. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing," he said quickly, his voice almost too fast. He tried to muster up some semblance of composure. "Just... you're doing great today. I am really proud of you."
Sakura ,not quite convinced by his sudden shift in attitude, but too tired to question it. "Thanks."
The two left the house they were in and Sasuke was thinking of something to fix the situation.
"Are you done for today?" he asked.
"Yes."
"Are you hungry?"
"No."
"Are you tired?"
"A little."
The cool air between them felt suffocating as Sasuke suddenly reached out, grabbing Sakura's arm gently but firmly. His grip wasn't forceful; it was as if he were holding onto a lifeline.
"Sakura, I'm sorry," he said, his voice strained with the weight of his regret.
Sakura stopped in her tracks, staring at him for a moment. Her expression didn't soften, but her eyes flickered with something unreadable. She pulled her arm out of his grip, the movement sharp but controlled.
"Sorry doesn't fix everything," she said, her tone cool and steady. "Especially not when you're being a hypocrite."
Sasuke flinched at the sharpness in her voice, his throat tightening. He wanted to say something, but the words stuck. Instead, he just listened.
"We're not children anymore, Sasuke," she continued, her gaze unwavering. "We're mature enough to talk things through, to solve things differently. But that doesn't mean I've forgiven you."
She took a deep breath, her gaze turning more intense as she continued. "You were a hypocrite. And immature. Letting jealousy take control of you like that..."
Sasuke's heart dropped at her words, and he lowered his head, closing his eyes. She was right. Every word hit him like a truth he couldn't escape. He had let his emotions get the best of him, and now he had to face the consequences of his actions.
"You're right," he said quietly, his voice laced with shame. "I feel really stupid for everything I said that night."
"Yeah, sure." She said .
He know. It wasn't enough to just apologize. Words were useless. He had to do more. Much more. Then an idea came to his mind.
Sasuke cleared his throat, a rare sound of uncertainty escaping his lips. "It's early, you said you weren't hungry."
"Yeah, and?"
"How about we do some training?" He said in a flat tone, attempting to sound casual, though his words made no sense in the moment.
Sakura blinked, confused. "Train? You want to train... now?"
"I want to teach you how to use a katana."
"A katana?" she echoed, her voice a mix of disbelief and intrigue.
Sasuke nodded. "I know you enjoy training with me. And you get... a bit too worked up when you're angry. Maybe this will help you get that frustration out."
Sakura stared at him, utterly dumbfounded. "Are you... are you trying to apologize with swordplay?"
Sasuke, still deadpan, met her gaze. "I didn't say it was a perfect plan."
"Well," she began, her tone mockingly serious, "if you think waving a katana around is going to fix everything, then I guess I'll bite. But you better be ready for the consequences when I inevitably chop you in half, Uchiha."
Sasuke, somehow looking even more serious, nodded. "I'll take my chances."
"Where are we going to have this training session?" Sakura asked.
"In the field near the hotel we're staying at." He said and so the two of them set off in that direction.
As they walked, Sasuke came to an abrupt halt in front of a weapon shop, the wooden door creaking as he entered without a word. Sakura raised an eyebrow. She stood outside, her arms crossed and her thoughts swimming with a mix of confusion and amusement. 'What is he planning now?'
Minutes passed before Sasuke emerged from the shop, a shiny new katana in hand. He looked... well, just as stoic as ever, but the katana in his hand had a certain weight to it—a symbol of the "apology" he was attempting.
Sakura's gaze fell on the weapon. "Is that for me?"
Sasuke nodded, the faintest hint of discomfort in his expression. "Yeah, it's yours."
Sakura looked at the katana, then back at him. It was sleek, with a sharp gleam to it. Her lips curled into a grin. "Well, aren't you full of surprises."
Without another word, they walked the remaining distance to the open field, the grass rustling beneath their feet. Sasuke stood for a moment, adjusting his grip on his katana. Sakura, ever the eager student, moved to the side and began tying her hair into a loose ponytail, her fingers deftly pulling it back and securing it.
Sasuke's eyes lingered for a moment on her ponytail, a brief thought slipping into his mind. 'She looks beautiful like that...'. He quickly rolled up his sleeves, trying to shake the thought. 'Focus.'
He cleared his throat. "We'll start with basic techniques. You should be able to pick them up quickly."
Sakura nodded, her focus returning to the training at hand. She took her katana and gripped it firmly. The way she held the weapon with such natural ease was a reminder of her sharp instincts. Sasuke gave her a few instructions, and to his surprise, she followed them perfectly, executing each move with precision and grace.
As they went through the drills, Sasuke began to relax, watching her closely. Despite the tension still lingering between them, there was something calming about the way she trained. It was almost... familiar. Comfortable.
Sakura's breath quickened as she continued to follow Sasuke's movements. Her focus was intense, but there was something else too—something that she couldn't quite shake. She was still irritated, and no matter how much she loved training with him, she couldn't completely let go of the frustration bubbling in her chest.
Finally, she threw down her practice stance and exhaled sharply, her annoyance suddenly taking the wheel. "Okay, I've had enough of this," she muttered, her gaze narrowing as she raised the katana. "Let's see how you handle a real fight."
Sasuke barely had time to react before Sakura lunged at him, her movements sharp and aggressive. The force behind her strike was more than he'd expected from a beginner. She was fast, determined, and the way she swung that katana—she meant business.
'Okay, this isn't just a little venting,' Sasuke thought as he quickly sidestepped her attack. 'She's really going for it.'
He smirked, raising his own katana to parry her next strike. "Careful, Sakura. You're starting to look like you want to kill your lover."
Sakura's eyes flashed with a mischievous glint as she struck again. "Maybe that's exactly what I'm trying to do."
Sasuke's smirk only grew wider as he blocked her blows, each clash of steel ringing through the air. Sakura's movements were fluid, though raw—there was still a trace of anger in her strikes, the kind that came from frustration. Sasuke matched her perfectly, not holding back but also not pushing her too hard.
With each strike, Sakura's annoyance seemed to grow. Her katanas rang against Sasuke's with force, and after a particularly sharp clash, Sasuke had to take a step back. He raised an eyebrow at her. "You're getting a little too good at this."
"Maybe I'm just tired of being nice," Sakura shot back, her voice laced with a hint of sarcasm.
She lunged again, her katana slicing down at Sasuke with far more intensity than before. Sasuke, still wearing his smirk, effortlessly blocked the strike, though he could feel the force behind it.
"That's a little too much aggression for a 'lesson,' don't you think?" Sasuke said with a teasing tone. "You've got to calm down, or you'll give yourself an injury."
"Go ahead, leave the words for later."
"Okay. Whoever takes the katana out of the other person's hand first wins. Deal?" Sasuke said.
"Deal."
Sasuke was beginning to wonder how far Sakura would push this sparring match. She was still fiery, her movements fast and precise, but Sasuke was having no trouble keeping up. With each strike, they circled each other, their katanas ringing with each clash. Her energy was undeniable, but he still had the upper hand.
That is, until he made a critical mistake.
With a sudden flick of her wrist, Sakura knocked Sasuke's katana off-course, the blade slipping from his grasp. He cursed under his breath as it skittered across the grass, out of reach. For a moment, he stood there, stunned by her sheer tenacity.
Sakura, breathing heavily, grinned widely, her cheeks flushed from the workout. "I win," she said, the victory in her voice undeniable.
Sasuke raised an eyebrow, not quite satisfied with the outcome. He knew he wasn't completely beaten, but it was clear that the playful edge in their sparring had shifted. "You're getting better. But don't think you can do that again."
Sakura laughed lightly, her breath still shaky from their match. "Well, that's what happens when you underestimate me, Sasuke."
But Sasuke wasn't going to let her claim victory just yet. As he took a step toward her to pick up his sword, he couldn't resist the impulse.
Without warning, Sasuke reached out and lightly grabbed her wrist, pulling her closer. Sakura's eyes widened in surprise.
"What—?"
Before she could finish, he leaned in, his lips brushing her ear in a soft, teasing gesture. The sensation made her body shiver, her breath catching in her throat.
Sasuke's voice was low, almost a whisper as he spoke right by her ear. "You're very beautiful, Sakura."
Sakura froze for a moment, her face burning, her heart racing. It was so unlike him—Sasuke wasn't the type to be so open with his affection, especially in such a subtle, teasing way.
She tried to gather her composure, but the closeness was intoxicating. In the split second of vulnerability that Sasuke gave her, she saw an opening. He was caught off guard, distracted by the proximity, and his guard dropped just enough.
Before Sasuke knew what hit him, Sakura closed the distance between them even more, her lips brushing against his cheek as she pressed herself closer. Her nose nuzzled his, and the sudden, unexpected intimacy made his focus waver for just a second.
That was all she needed.
With a swift motion, Sakura twisted her wrist free from his grip and brought the katana down in one fluid movement, knocking his weapon from his hand. She had him. Sasuke stared at her, blinking in disbelief as the sword clattered to the ground.
Sakura stepped back, a sly grin on her lips as she caught her breath. "I win again."
Sasuke, still a little caught up in the sudden shift of energy, frowned, though the edge of amusement played at his lips. "It's not like I was thinking about the katana in my hand. The fight was over."
Sakura rolled her eyes playfully, still breathing heavily from their sparring. "A good shinobi should never lose their concentration in a battle, Sasuke. You should know that by now."
"Next time," Sasuke said, finally breaking the silence. "You won't get away so easily."
Sakura tilted her head slightly, her expression teasing. "We'll see about that, Uchiha."
Sasuke couldn't help but smile, the brief flicker of affection in his eyes betraying his usual stoicism. "We'll see. Let's go eat dinner now."
" 'Let's go'? More accurately 'Go'." Sakura said as she let go of her hair and fixed it.
"What do you mean?"
"I'm not having dinner with you. Just because you invited me to a 'training' and complimented me doesn't mean I forgot what happened or that I forgave you."
"Sakura, don't-"
She turned fully toward him then, giving him a long look. "You can go have dinner in your room. I'll be having mine in mine. And don't even think about trying to change my mind."
Her tone was commanding, but Sasuke couldn't help but smirk. The usual fire in her voice was present, but it was mixed with something else—something playful.
Sasuke leaned against a tree, crossing his arms over his chest as he watched her. "You're giving orders now?" he asked, amused. "What happened to the sweet, forgiving Sakura?"
"I'm still sweet," she shot back, but there was no denying the edge in her voice. "But I'm not forgiving just yet."
Her tone was final, and there was no more room for argument. Sasuke took a step back and gave her a slow nod. "Understood, Commander."
"Good night Uchiha-san."
Sakura turned to walk away, but Sasuke's smirk stayed in place as he watched her leave. She was so determined, so strong-willed. It was one of the things he admired most about her. But something else lingered, something he hadn't expected—an odd sense of pride.
As Sakura walked off toward the hotel, Sasuke found himself smiling softly. "I'll eat you and those nerves of yours soon," he muttered under his breath, the words carrying a playful, teasing promise.
Sasuke turned to head back to his room, the events of the evening still lingering in his mind. As he passed a small shop along the street, the brightly lit sign caught his eye. Anmitsu.
He froze for a moment, remembering the way Sakura's eyes would light up whenever she mentioned it. It was her favorite dessert, one she always craved after a long day. A small, devious grin tugged at the corner of his lips. 'Perfect.'
Without overthinking it, Sasuke stepped inside and bought a serving of anmitsu, the sweet aroma of syrup and fresh fruit filling the air as he left the shop, the bowl in hand. His thoughts were clear—he'd go to Sakura's room, tease her a bit more, and maybe get one more laugh out of her. He was getting a bit more comfortable with this, wasn't he?
Sasuke arrived at her door and knocked, the sound echoing lightly in the hallway. He could hear her footsteps approaching, and the door creaked open. There stood Sakura, looking at him with an eyebrow raised, arms crossed, as if she'd been expecting something, but certainly not this.
"What do you want now?" she asked.
Sasuke smiled, his usual stoic expression barely hiding the amusement in his eyes. He held up the bowl of anmitsu in front of her face, watching her reaction. "I brought you dessert."
Sakura blinked, then her expression softened immediately, a grin spreading across her face as she looked at the treat. "Anmitsu!" She said in awe, almost like a child who had just received her most desired gift. "You remembered."
"Of course I did," Sasuke replied, voice smooth, though the hint of teasing lingered. "I know what you like."
She took the dessert from his hand, her eyes shining with genuine joy as she looked up at him. "This is exactly what I wanted."
Sasuke smirked, leaning against the doorframe. "I'm glad. But..." He paused for dramatic effect. "If you're so happy about it, maybe you should have dinner with me."
Sakura stopped mid-bite, holding the spoon in front of her mouth as she shot him a sidelong glance. "What?"
Sasuke's smirk widened. "Come on, Sakura. You can't just eat your dessert and run. You should be more grateful."
Sakura raised her eyebrow, her expression playful yet slightly mischievous. She leaned toward him, her voice lowering to a near-whisper. "Come closer a bit."
Sasuke, intrigued, took a step forward, leaning in, expecting her to respond in some teasing way.
But instead, Sakura leaned in close to his ear, her breath warm against his skin as she whispered a single, defiant word: "No."
Sasuke froze, caught off guard. Before he could react, she gave him a push, closing the door softly but firmly in his face.
He stared at the closed door for a moment, a mixture of shock and laughter bubbling up inside him. "Stubborn," he muttered to himself, the amusement still evident in his tone.
Just as he turned to leave, the door swung open again, and Sakura's voice rang out from inside, sharp and teasing. "I heard that, -ass," she called, before promptly slamming the door shut in his face once more.
He stood there for a moment, feeling lighter than he had in days. With a final, amused smile, he turned and walked down the hall, heading to his own room.
Sasuke couldn't help but chuckle, his eyes lighting up with genuine amusement as he shook his head. "What a women."
