Hello! I hope you are all well.
I have received many private messages of appreciation and compliments and I wanted to thank you all for every kind word you have given me. Since I am a person who has not read many books or who has not had a very good relationship with literature or writing in general, reading that you have liked this idea of mine makes me feel extremely appreciated.
I am very happy that you have liked this story even a little and I hope you enjoy it until the end.
I love you all !
Sasuke's eyes fluttered open in the darkness of the room, his mind still clouded with confusion. Had it all been a dream?
The warmth of Sakura's soft kiss lingered on his cheek, but was it real? Had she really come to him in the middle of the night, whispered those words, and then… pulled away as if nothing had happened? He wasn't sure.
His fingers brushed the spot where her lips had touched, the sensation still tingling against his skin, a flush of heat spread across his usually stoic face. He could hardly believe what had just happened, the fleeting softness of her touch making him feel both vulnerable and alive.
He turned his head slowly toward her. Sakura was lying on her bed, completely covered by the blanket.
A faint smile tugged at Sasuke's lips. He found her behavior endearing, even if it was a little childish. It was a side of her he rarely got to see, one that never failed to stir something inside him.
"Sakura," he called softly, his voice barely above a whisper.
Her eyes cracked open, but she didn't immediately respond. Sasuke leaned against the pillow, his gaze never leaving her face. "You should come here," he added quietly, almost as if he didn't want to disturb the peaceful night too much.
Sakura, still half-awake, gave a small shake of her head, pulling the covers tighter around her. "It's better if we talk about this tomorrow," she muttered sleepily, her voice a mix of uncertainty and resolve.
Sasuke nodded. His expression softened, though his mind was still racing. "Okay," he said, though it felt like an eternity before he would be able to sleep again.
He turned over, his back to her now, but he knew he wouldn't be sleeping tonight. Not yet. Not with the weight of her words and the feeling of her kiss still burning in his skin.
Sasuke stood with his eyes closed, his mind a swirl of fleeting images. Memories, like fragments of a long-lost dream, came rushing back to him. Some were sweet, others tinged with regret, but all of them carried weight. It was a strange feeling—standing at the crossroads of the past and present, and yet, there was something undeniably comforting about it.
He thought back to the days after the war, just before he was imprisoned.
It had only been one week since the end of the war, and the world was still settling into the quiet aftermath of their victory. Sasuke and Naruto had spent four full days sleeping—exhausted, their bodies broken by battle, desperately needing to recover.
The hospital room was dimly lit when the door creaked open. Sasuke's sharp eyes flickered over, though he barely moved. There, standing in the doorway, was Sakura. She looked tired, dark circles under her eyes, her gaze heavy with fatigue, but her smile—it never faltered. The warmth in it was enough to chase away any shadow in the room.
Her eyes met his, soft but determined. "How are you feeling?" she asked, her voice gentle despite the exhaustion lacing it.
"I'm fine," Sasuke replied, his voice hoarse. It wasn't a lie, but it wasn't the truth either. He was more than fine, but that was something he didn't say out loud.
Naruto, still slumped in his bed nearby, interjected with his usual tone of levity. "I'm here too, you know!" he said, giving a thumbs-up from his pillow.
Sakura's laughter rang through the room, light and free, a sound that had been absent for far too long. "Well, as long as you can tease people, then you must be fine," she teased, her gaze switching between the two of them, bright and affectionate.
The sound of her laughter, the simple warmth in her presence—it was something Sasuke hadn't realized he missed. He was silent for a moment, his gaze fixed on Sakura and Naruto as they continued to banter, a familiar scene from years past.
But as he watched, his mind was flooded with thoughts he could never voice. What would the team have been like if I hadn't left? What if he had never made that choice, never walked away? His chest tightened with the weight of what he'd lost—years spent alone, years that could have been spent with the people who mattered most to him. I could have been here. He could have been with them... His eyes shifted from Sakura to Naruto, and for the first time, he truly understood something that had always been there: This—the three of them—was his family.
Lost in his own mission, his thirst for revenge. In those years, he had chosen a path of isolation, believing he could never be part of the world again. But looking at the two of them now, at the smiles that made the world feel like it might actually be worth something, he realized how foolish that was.
'What would it have been like?' Sasuke thought, feeling the pull of those unanswered questions. He was suddenly so aware of the years he had thrown away, the time he could never get back. Years that had been wasted on something as fleeting and empty as revenge, when he could have been with his true family—Sakura, Naruto, and even Kakashi.
And maybe, if he had been more intelligent and gentle, maybe he would have learned the truth about his brother and helped him live. Maybe if he hadn't been such an idiot they would be together today, leaving behind everything terrible and though with great difficulty, but at least they would be together. Only if he hadn't been such an idiot, if he had been intelligent enough to understand Kakashi's words.
The realization hit him like a weight to the chest.
He had always been fighting something, and now he found himself fighting for something else—for the chance to make up for what he had lost.
A sweet voice interrupted his thoughts.
"I'll go get lunch for you two," Sakura said, standing up from the chair beside them, her hair swaying as she moved. She gave them a smile, a big, bright one that made him smile back. "I'll be back in a bit. You just rest."
Naruto, still grinning like he'd just won the lottery, gave her a thumbs-up. "Thanks, Sakura-chaaan! You're the best!"
As she headed for the door, Sasuke's gaze followed her for a split second. It wasn't just the absence of her presence that made the room feel a little emptier; it was the weight of his own thoughts, the distance he felt from everyone. When the door clicked shut behind her, Naruto turned to Sasuke with a smirk.
"Well, well. Look who's finally showing a little emotion," Naruto said, raising an eyebrow. "It only took a world war to get you to crack a smile."
Sasuke's lips twitched upward, the barest hint of a smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. He didn't say anything, but that was enough to make Naruto burst into laughter.
"I knew it," Naruto continued, still chuckling. "One day, the mighty Uchiha Sasuke would be reduced to this." He pointed dramatically at Sasuke's faint smile.
A few hours before sunrise, the beautiful memories were what took Sasuke to sleep and into the world of dreams.
Morning came quickly. Sasuke hadn't slept much, but he had gotten used to the idea of getting little sleep. Blinking in the early morning light, he saw Sakura standing at the foot of the bed, her back turned to him as she quietly prepared for the day. She didn't even seem to notice him stirring.
"Good morning," Sasuke said, rubbing his eyes.
Sakura turned around to look at him, her cheeks immediately turning pink. "Good morning to you too! How did you sleep?"
"I didn't sleep much," he said, leaning against the headboard. "Sakura, can we talk about - "
"I have to go downstairs and help the girls make breakfast. Hurry up, don't be late!" Sakura said in one breath and left the room.
Sasuke raised an eyebrow with confusion. He wanted to finish this explanation today. It was time for Sakura to know how he really felt, it wasn't soon but too late. She deserved to know, but the question is how his idiotic little mind would process the speech he was going to give Sakura.
He stretched and quickly went to the bathroom for a shower. As the water ran over him, he tried to clear his mind. After a few moments, he stepped out, dried off, and dressed quickly. The house was quiet. It seemed like everyone else was already up, and the only ones left were Sakura, Hana's mother, Hana, and her younger sister.
As he made his way downstairs, Sasuke's eyes scanned the room. Sakura was sitting by the table, her back to him as she sorted through something, her pink hair tied up messily as usual. Sasuke hesitated for a moment, wondering if this would be his chance.
As soon as he opened his mouth to call out, Sakura turned her head. "Sasuke-kun, sit down and eat breakfast with us."
"Can we-" he started to ask, but Sakura answered quickly.
"We'll talk later, okay. Let's eat now." She didn't even look at him.
Sasuke's frown deepened. This is going to be more difficult than he thought.
After breakfast, Sakura was in the kitchen, washing dishes. Sasuke saw it—his opportunity. The room was quieter, the only sound the rhythmic clink of dishes being washed. He could feel the tension building, and now was the time to finally bring up what had been on his mind all night.
His mind had been working all the time since he woke up. Okay, Sakura would talk, she would make it clear that she loved him, etc. etc. And then? What was he supposed to say to her?
Sasuke took a deep breath. "Calm down, idiot. It's nothing. Let Sakura finish first and then tell her that you love her, that's all. Sakura, I love you. It's not that hard, it's only three words."
Sasuke took another deep breath, adjusted and straightened his posture. He was confident that he would be able to pull it off without a problem. Like everyone else, what did the others have that he didn't. If Naruto had been able to propose to a woman without a problem, he could do the same.
He turned and made his way to Sakura. "I can do it, I can do it, I can do it.".
Faced with the pink color of Sakura's hair, Sasuke swallowed. "No, I can't do it."
"Sakura," he called, his voice low.
She turned just slightly, her gaze darting to him before quickly avoiding his eyes. "What is it, Sasuke-kun?" she asked, still focused on the plate in front of her, avoiding his gaze as if she hadn't heard him properly.
He sighed inwardly. Here we go. "We need to talk."
Sakura paused for a moment, still holding the dish, and then she quickly glanced at him. Without saying a word, she called out to Hana from the other room. "Hana, now's the time. Now is the perfect time to do the workout you left together, before we leave for the Land of Sea. Hm, what do you say?"
Sasuke's brow furrowed. What was this? Was she intentionally avoiding him?
He stared at her, his frustration starting to show. "Sakura, I—"
But she was already walking away, signaling to Hana to follow her. Sasuke's jaw clenched as he silently vented his anger. Was this some kind of joke?
Sasuke couldn't help it. He let out a breath and muttered to himself, "Unbelievable."
Grabbing his Katana, he went out into the courtyard where Hana was probably waiting for him to do this idiotic training that he was dying to get rid of. If he earned money every time Sakura had mentioned this to him, he would be a millionaire today, for sure.
The sound of the katana cutting through the air echoed in the backyard as Sasuke and Hana sparred. Sasuke observed her carefully as she swung the blade, her movements fluid but still making small mistakes. He didn't need to say much, but he couldn't help himself.
"You're too focused on the blade," he said, his voice firm but measured. "You need to be more aware of your surroundings. It's not just about the strike; it's about timing and positioning."
Hana paused, looking at him with a grin. " I'll fix it then," she said, wiping a bead of sweat from her forehead and started laughing.
Sasuke raised an eyebrow. "You're laughing?"
Hana shrugged and laughed again, her expression light. "I just find it funny."
"What do you mean?" Sasuke asked, confused.
Hana tilted her head, still smiling. "It's strange, that's all."
"What's so strange about it?" Sasuke's tone was flat.
"Well, it's just that... for someone like you—someone as skilled as Sasuke Uchiha—you're really bad at expressing your feelings to a woman."
Sasuke blinked, momentarily thrown off. "What?"
Hana shrugged again, eyes twinkling with amusement. "It's obvious to everyone."
Sasuke's frown deepened. "What are you talking about?"
Hana's grin widened. "You and Sakura-san, of course. It's so clear that you two have feelings for each other."
Sasuke stood frozen for a moment, his mind racing. "I don't understand what you mean," he said slowly.
"Come on, Sasuke-san," Hana teased. "Even though the words between you two are the same as any other friends, it's your eyes that give it away. Every time you look at each other, it's like you're speaking without saying a word. The way you look at her... it's like the two of you communicate just with a glance."
Sasuke's expression remained unreadable as he processed her words. " We communicate with our eyes, huh?" he muttered, almost to himself.
Hana nodded, her expression softening. "Exactly. It's all in your eyes. People can tell. Even if you're not saying anything, your feelings are clear."
Sasuke didn't respond. Instead, he simply turned away, returning to his stance as he gripped his katana. He didn't know how to respond to that, and his silence only seemed to deepen Hana's knowing smile.
Hana paused, sensing the tension, then decided to offer a solution. "You know... I might have an idea that could help."
Sasuke turned back toward her, raising an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"
"Well, if you're having trouble saying what you feel, maybe you should try writing it down," Hana suggested, her voice more serious now. "Even just one word, one sentence. It doesn't matter. Just write it down. You might find it easier than saying it out loud."
Sasuke was quiet for a moment, his gaze fixed on her. "You think that will work?"
Hana shrugged nonchalantly, but there was a glint of something sincere in her eyes. "It's worth a try, right? It's not about being perfect—it's about getting it out."
Sasuke said nothing for a few beats, his thoughts a little too tangled to express. Finally, he nodded once, his expression still guarded.
"Maybe I'll try it," he muttered, more to himself than to her. " It's a good idea, simpler than saying it verbally. If the lady would have the honor to give us 2 seconds of attention and not run away ignoring me" Sasuke said to himself.
Night had fallen, casting a soft shadow over the small, quiet house. The dinner dishes had been cleared away, and the peaceful hum of the evening had settled around the household. Sakura stepped outside, the cool air biting slightly at her skin. She promised Hana's father that she would take care of cutting the wood for the fire, an easy enough task she could handle on her own. This family had welcomed them so well and Sakura wanted to help them as little as possible before they left for their new place the next morning.
Sakura's eyes lowered to the pile of wood before her, and she took a steadying breath, trying to focus on the task at hand. But the thought of Sasuke weighed on her heavily. She really hoped that he had managed to sleep like the others. Sleep, without the nagging thoughts that kept her awake, without the fear of what might come next.
Sakura was afraid, very afraid. Not afraid of Sasuke, but of what he would say. After all, every time she had expressed her feelings openly and without any problem, she had never received a proper response. Deep down, Sakura could not bear another rejection.
For a girl, it is much more difficult to express her first feelings to a boy. Most women have a natural instinct to leave everything in the hands of a man. There are many who think that a man should be the one who should take the first steps in everything. Few are those women who have the courage to express their feelings without fear and shyness.
Sakura was part of this small category until she began to mature. Or more precisely, until the number of expressions of feelings in front of Sasuke had become so many that now she seemed like an idiot to tell him again. Even if he wanted to, Sakura could never be one of those women who wait for a man to make the first move.
Sasuke was not the kind of man who would take the first step. He was very shy, and even if he had feelings for her, even if he died from the weight of the feelings he could have for Sakura, he would hardly tell her so easily. Besides, he did not value himself as much as he should. If one day, Sasuke loved Sakura, he knew that he would not tell her because he would think that she was not at the right level to deserve him as a girl. Or he would think that he would bring danger to her life as a result of his past and thus he would never express himself.
In these cases, she would know very well how to convince him that everything would be fine. But this was just a beautiful dream of Sakura locked away there in her heart.
Sakura took a deep breath and let it out. She had been having a headache and chest pain since lunch. She was short of breath and she hoped she wasn't going through some kind of anxiety.
She heard some footsteps then—soft, measured, deliberate. Her heart skipped a beat. She didn't need to turn around to know who it was. It was Sasuke. It had been him all day, lingering just behind her, trying to find a way to get her attention, trying to talk when she'd been doing everything she could to avoid him.
The tension in her chest tightened. She gripped the ax tighter, her fingers trembling slightly. She could feel his presence just behind her, like a pull she couldn't escape. But even though the weight of the moment pressed down on her, she stayed focused on the wood. 'I'll just keep working,' she thought. 'Maybe he'll go away.'
But he didn't.
"Sakura," Sasuke called, his voice soft but firm.
Sakura turned around with a smile, trying to mask her nervousness. "Oh, I didn't see you there," she said quickly, the words coming out too easily. She couldn't look at him directly. "Why aren't you sleeping?"
Sasuke's expression hardened. "We need to talk."
Sakura paused, her smile slipping for just a moment. "What about?"
Sasuke's frustration bubbled over. "Don't act ignorant."
The sharpness in his tone caught her off guard. All of the tension from the day, from avoiding the conversation, built up in an instant. She slammed the axe onto the table, the force making the sound of metal against wood echo in the night air.
"Enough, Sasuke!" she snapped, turning to face him. "What do you want to talk about so much? What's so urgent?"
Sasuke stiffened but didn't back down. "Sakura…"
"What are you looking forward to talking about so much? Was this all just to say the famous phrase again?" Sakura interrupted, voice rising with anger. "The one you always say after I express my feelings? 'You're still annoying,' right?"
She shook her head, frustration lacing her words. "You don't need to keep repeating the same things to me because I already know!
Her chest was rising and falling with each breath, her frustration taking over.
Sasuke took a breath, steadying himself, then spoke calmly. "That's not what I meant."
Sakura put her hands on her waist, her frustration not letting up. "Then what is it? Are you going to give me a lecture on how I should give up? Tell me to focus on my life, tell me I shouldn't love you, tell me that you're not the type for romance or love, so I should just… give up on all of this? What are you going to tell me? To find someone else and to remove you from my heart?"
She stepped closer, her eyes burning with emotion. "Guess what? I will love you for the rest of my life, whether you like it or not. I will love you. I will never stop. Get this into your head. I love you, I don't want anyone else. The fact that you don't love me doesn't mean that I'll marry someone just because I'll be alone."
Sasuke's face tensed, but there was a hint of discomfort in his voice. "Enough, Sakura," he said. "First of all, you told me the same thing after the New Year's Eve party. But you were too drunk to remember."
Sakura's eyes widened in shock. "Wait... I said that?" she asked nervously, her voice a little higher than usual. "Why didn't you tell me that?!"
Sasuke sighed, his voice steady but with a faint trace of irritation. "I didn't have anything to tell you. It was something that we knew. Secondly," Sasuke said, taking a deep breath, "you are not alone, you never have been and you never will be."
"Of course. Sasuke, each person in our friendship has created their own life. No one is the same, not even me. Everyone has other priorities and these will come and go. But that doesn't mean I'm afraid of loneliness. It's better than spending your life with someone you don't love."
"Can you end these marriage talks with someone you don't love? No one is asking you to get married, nor did I come here with a list of candidates for you. Did I tell you to go get married, that you're having these conversations?"
Sakura frowned, crossing her arms. " What is it you wanted to discuss then?"
Sasuke took a deep breath, gathering his words, but just as he was about to speak, Sakura interrupted him, her eyes widening in realization. "Wait, are you going to ask me to go back to Konoha?"
Sasuke's face flushed slightly, a little taken aback. "Tch, shut up for a moment and stop with these theories your brain is inventing," he said, slightly exasperated. "Just listen to me."
Sakura crossed her arms, a little smirk forming. "Fine. Continue."
Sasuke sighed, avoiding her gaze for a moment, clearly trying to compose himself. "I've been wanting to tell you something for a while now, but I just... don't know how to say it."
Sakura tilted her head, curiosity piqued. "Tell me exactly what it is."
Sasuke blushed slightly, clearly embarrassed. He hesitated but handed her a small folded piece of paper. Sakura blinked at it, confused by his sudden shyness.
"What's this?" she asked, raising an eyebrow, noticing how red Sasuke had become.
Sasuke rolled his eyes, still blushing. "Just read it," he muttered, looking away from her.
Sakura's hands trembled slightly as she unfolded the small piece of paper, her mind racing. She glanced down at the carefully written words and blinked, reading them again to make sure she wasn't imagining it. 'I love you.'
The words hit her like a bomb, her breath catching in her chest. Was she reading this right? Was this real? Her heart pounded in her ears, her face flushing crimson. It was almost too much to process, and she glanced up at Sasuke, completely stunned.
"What… What is this?" she managed to stammer, her voice coming out shakier than she intended.
Sasuke raised an eyebrow, a faint smirk pulling at his lips. "It's a letter."
Sakura blinked, her eyes wide, still holding the paper in disbelief. "No, I mean… is this... is this really true?" She could barely form the words, feeling as though her entire world had tilted on its axis.
Sasuke's face turned slightly red, and he rubbed the back of his neck, clearly uncomfortable with the situation. "I didn't know how to say it… You know how I am with words. It's easier like this. At least for now," he explained quietly, trying to avoid her gaze.
Sakura swallowed hard, still staring at the letter, her hands suddenly cold despite the warmth of the night. "So… it's true? You... you really feel this way?"
"Yes," Sasuke said simply, his voice just above a whisper, but there was a sincerity in it that made Sakura's heart race even faster.
The words hung in the air between them, and for a moment, everything was still. Sakura's breath caught in her throat, and she felt her world spinning. The magnitude of what he had just said hit her all at once, her heart swelling with emotions she hadn't known how to handle. And then, before she could process it further…
Sakura fainted.
Her legs gave out beneath her, and she crumpled to the ground in a heap. The letter fluttered from her hand as her head hit the grass with a soft thud.
Sakura slowly opened her eyes, blinking in confusion as she found herself lying on the ground. The soft earth beneath her felt real, but everything else... was a bit of a blur. She lifted her head, and Sasuke was hovering above her, his face inches from hers, his intense eyes studying her with a hint of concern.
"Sasuke-kun?" she called out softly, still a little disoriented from her fainting spell.
Sasuke, a little taken aback by the sudden movement, asked, "Are you okay?" His voice held an edge of worry, but it was a little more guarded than usual.
Sakura sat up slowly, her mind still catching up with what had happened. "I'm fine, I think... But that was the strangest dream," she said, a nervous laugh escaping her lips.
Sasuke raised an eyebrow, a faint frown crossing his face. "A dream?" he asked, sounding skeptical.
Sakura nodded, still half-laughing as she looked around, trying to shake the confusion from her mind. "Yeah, like... I dreamed you actually told me that you…that…that you love me."
Sasuke took a deep breath, his eyes softening slightly as he leaned down, his fingers gently touching her cheek. "It wasn't a dream, Sakura," he said quietly, his voice steady but filled with sincerity.
Sakura's breath hitched, her heart skipping a beat at his touch. She met his eyes, the intensity of his gaze making her blush. It was a look she wasn't used to seeing from him, and it made her feel lightheaded.
"Wait," she murmured, blinking a couple of times to make sure she wasn't imagining things. "Are you serious?"
Sasuke's face turned redder, a mix of embarrassment and frustration crossing his features. He swallowed hard, his throat suddenly dry. "Yes," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "And don't ask me that question again."
Sakura's eyes widened, her heart pounding as a huge smile spread across her face. She couldn't help herself. Her happiness bubbled over, and in a moment of pure joy, she launched herself into Sasuke's arms, hugging him tightly.
"I'm so happy!" she exclaimed, her voice filled with excitement. "I never thought this would actually happen!"
Sasuke stiffened, a little caught off guard by her enthusiasm, but as Sakura held him, he felt a warmth he hadn't expected. It felt... nice. Really nice.
Sakura pulled back just enough to cup his face in her hands, her eyes sparkling with joy. "Thank you," she whispered, her heart swelling with affection.
Before Sasuke could say anything, she leaned in and kissed him softly on the cheek. Then, as if unable to stop herself, she kissed him again on the other cheek, her lips lingering just a bit longer this time.
Sasuke's face turned the deepest shade of red he had ever felt, his body stiffening as if he might explode from the sudden wave of embarrassment. He rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly. "Sakura..." he muttered, his voice strained. "Can we... can we take things step by step? Calmly?"
Sakura giggled, still glowing with happiness. "Of course," she said, her voice sweet and gentle. "We can go at whatever pace you're comfortable with."
Sasuke smiled, but it was brief, as if he was still processing the sudden shift in their relationship. He hesitated for a moment, before leaning down toward her forehead. He kissed her lightly, his lips brushing against her skin with the softest of touches.
But before she could react, he quickly pulled away, his face completely flushed. He turned his head, trying to hide how embarrassed he was.
Sakura's heart fluttered in her chest as she watched him, her smile widening. She loved this side of him — the one that only came out when they were alone, when he was being honest and vulnerable. She gave him a sweet, understanding look, her heart full of love and affection for the man beside her.
Sasuke, still avoiding her gaze, cleared his throat. "We should probably get inside," he said, trying to regain his composure.
Sakura nodded, her heart still racing as she looked at him. "Yeah," she agreed softly, but her smile never wavered.
The two began to make their way to their room. Just as Sakura took two steps forward, she paused, her fingers lightly gripping Sasuke's shoulder. He turned to face her, raising an eyebrow in mild curiosity.
Sakura looked up at him, a shy smile playing at the corner of her lips. "So… now that you've said you love me… what are we exactly?"
Sasuke's lips curled into a smirk, his gaze steady yet playful. "I think it's clear what we are now," he said with a calm, teasing tone.
Her face flushed a deep pink, and she quickly lowered her eyes, trying to hide her bashful grin.
Before she could respond, Sasuke's fingers gently tapped her forehead, light and almost affectionate. "You're a very good sister, Sakura. I've never had a sister before."
Sakura blinked in confusion, looking up at him. "Sister?"
Sasuke let out a soft, genuine laugh. "You're really annoying, you know that?"
She pouted, her lips pressing together in a frown. She stayed rooted to the spot, slightly unsure whether to be amused or annoyed by his teasing.
Sasuke's face could now be compared to a tomato. He glanced back over his shoulder at her , and his tone shifted slightly. "I'm kidding," he said with a slight pause. "If you want, you can call yourself my girlfriend... and I'll be your boyfriend, if you want."
The words hung in the air for a moment. Sakura's face brightened with a smile, and she nodded, her eyes sparkling. "I'd like that," she said softly, her voice almost teasing now.
She couldn't resist adding, "You're so cute when you blush, Sasuke-kun."
Sasuke exhaled and was trying his best to hide his face from Sakura's gaze. Ever since they had known each other, no matter what the situation, the moment she said that awkward word 'cute' Sasuke would blush all over. Luckily, none of his teammates had caught it.
"Let's go to sleep, we have to get up early for the ferry or we'll miss it," Sasuke said as he started walking quickly towards the room to hide from Sakura.
Sakura laughed. "Yeah yeah, cutie."
The early morning sunlight filtered through the curtains as Sasuke and Sakura abruptly woke up. Both of them had slept a little longer than they should have, and now time was slipping away from them. They had no choice but to hurry.
Sasuke, usually calm, moved swiftly, his expression betraying none of the urgency he felt. Sakura, on the other hand, was already halfway out of bed, grabbing her clothes in a panic.
"We're going to miss the ferry," Sakura muttered under her breath as she quickly dressed.
"Just focus on getting ready," Sasuke said, his tone calm, but with a noticeable edge of impatience. "We'll make it."
Sasuke and Sakura greeted Hana's family and thanked them for the welcome as well as her family thanked them for all the help they had given them during these days. They both urged me and together they left for the port so as not to miss the ferry.
As they neared the docks, Sakura's heart sank. The line to board the ferry stretched farther than she had ever imagined.
"Looks like the rumors were true…" she murmured, her eyes wide as she took in the crowd of tourists.
Sasuke gave a quick glance, but his face remained stoic. "We'll get through it."
They managed to squeeze their way through the crowd and boarded the ferry, finding a quiet cabin near the back. It wasn't as crowded as the deck, and the gentle sway of the boat made it easier to relax.
Sakura settled into a corner, pulling the window slightly open to let in the crisp sea breeze. She looked out at the vast ocean, a sense of calm settling over her.
Sasuke, standing by the doorway, leaned in and lightly touched her cheek. "You're cold," he said, his voice almost a whisper.
Sakura smiled softly, turning her face into his touch. "It's fine. I'm not cold."
Sasuke didn't speak for a moment, but the small smile on his lips was enough to show his relief. Then, without breaking his gaze, he asked, "What do you want for breakfast?"
Sakura shook her head, her expression fond. "No need. Hana made onigiri this morning. She insisted I take some before we left."
Sasuke nodded, but then stood up with a quiet grunt, heading toward the small counter. A moment later, he returned with two plastic cups of steaming black tea, handing one to Sakura.
The warmth from the cup spread through her hands, and she felt a sense of contentment she hadn't realized she'd been craving.
"Thank you," Sakura said, her voice soft as she took a sip.
As they sat close together, quietly enjoying their breakfast and sipping on their tea, Sasuke's voice broke the silence.
"Considering how many people are only on this ferry, we'll hardly find an inn once we get to the Land of Sea," he said, his tone thoughtful but carrying a hint of frustration.
Sakura looked out the window, watching the endless horizon of blue. "It's not a problem," she replied with a calm smile. "We're not strangers to sleeping outside."
Sasuke looked at her, surprised by the ease in her voice. "I'm not going to let you sleep outside in a land which is in the middle of the sea, especially in this cold weather."
Sakura felt her cheeks warm slightly at his words. Her smile softened, and she lowered her gaze to her cup, feeling her heart flutter. "Have you ever been there during your journey alone?" she asked, her voice quieter now.
Sasuke shook his head. "No. The Land of Sea is more for tourists and fun than for... anything serious. It wasn't exactly a place for helping others."
Sakura raised an eyebrow, curiosity growing. "Then why did you choose this place for us? If it's just a tourist destination?"
Sasuke's gaze softened for a moment, his eyes meeting hers. "Because you deserve to rest more than you deserve to be tired."
Her heart skipped a beat at his words. It wasn't the kind of thing Sasuke would normally say, but hearing it made her feel both touched and content. She smiled at him, her eyes sparkling mischievously. "I didn't agree to come on this trip just to relax, you know."
Sasuke gave her a small smirk. "I know. But that's my wish for you."
"Thank you," Sakura said, her voice low but filled with sincerity. Then, with a playful glint in her eyes, she leaned in slightly closer to him, her lips just near his ear. "I'd give you a kiss on the cheek right now, but I know you wouldn't want that... in public."
Sasuke's eyes widened in shock, and he quickly turned his head to the side, pretending to be distracted by the yellow horizon outside the window. His face had turned bright red, and he cursed his inability to keep his composure.
Sakura stifled a giggle, leaning back a little but still watching him with amusement. "What's wrong, Sasuke-kun? Are you embarrassed?"
He muttered something unintelligible, his ears still red as he avoided her gaze. "It's... not like that."
Sakura's smile grew, and she decided to tease him a little more. "I think you're just to shy," she said playfully, "it's cute," she said reaching for her cup to take another sip of her tea.
Sasuke grumbled under his breath, trying to focus on anything other than the teasing smile on her face.
After the sun fully emerged, embracing the earth with its warm rays, the new couple decided to go outside. Sakura stood near the edge of the ferry, leaning on the railing, her hair swaying gently in the breeze. She breathed in the sea air deeply, savoring the feeling of peace that washed over her. Her eyes traveled across the sparkling water, taking in the panoramic view.
"It's beautiful," she murmured, a soft smile on her lips. "Look at this… the sea, the sky, it's all so peaceful."
Sasuke stood next to her, hands tucked into the pockets of his coat, his expression as calm as ever. He gave a small nod, his usual quiet acknowledgment. "Hn."
Sakura turned to him, her gaze thoughtful. "When was the last time we were on a ferry together?" she asked, her eyes narrowing slightly as she tried to remember.
Sasuke glanced at her. "It wasn't a ferry," he replied, "but we've been in the middle of the sea twice—during our two missions."
Sakura nodded, tapping her chin as she thought back. "You're right," she said. "Princess Koyuki mission. That was definitely my favorite."
Sasuke raised an eyebrow at her, a hint of amusement in his gaze. "No wonder. I always wondered if you were more excited about being with the princess or about the actors in that movie."
Sakura smirked, her eyes glinting with mischief. "I didn't know that besides love, you also hid a feeling of jealousy inside you."
Sasuke smirked in return, his eyes flickering toward her with the same quiet confidence he always held. "Jealousy would be the last thing you'd see in me."
Sakura burst into a soft laugh, shaking her head. "Oh, really? You might be the last person to admit it, but jealousy is just another feeling, Sasuke-kun. Especially when you care about someone."
Sasuke gave her a small, knowing look. "I'm not jealous."
Sakura crossed her arms and tilted her head, clearly unconvinced. "Oh? Well, we'll see how true that is, won't we?"
Sasuke merely raised an eyebrow, his smirk never faltering. "We'll see."
A few hours later, they finally arrived at the Land of Sea. The ferry had docked at the port, and the two of them disembarked, making their way to the main street. As they walked, they noticed how the Land of Sea was divided into three islands. One was considerably larger than the others, with many vacationers milling about, the streets bustling with energy. Everywhere they looked, buildings resembling hotels stretched up, catering to tourists looking for a relaxing getaway.
Sasuke's expression remained as neutral as ever, but Sakura could tell that his patience was thinning as they scouted out various hotels, only to find that most of them were either fully occupied or had reservations for incoming visitors.
"This is going to be harder than I thought," Sasuke muttered under his breath as they passed another busy hotel.
Sakura, noticing a building a little further down the road—quieter, more secluded, and away from the noise of the main strip—pointed it out. "What about that one?"
Sasuke glanced over and, after a moment of contemplation, nodded. "We'll check it out."
They walked inside, and Sasuke approached the receptionist at the front desk. "We'd like two rooms," he said, his usual calm demeanor unchanged.
The receptionist, a young woman with a bright smile, glanced at the computer screen before shaking her head. "I'm sorry, sir. We only have one room left available."
Sasuke raised an eyebrow. "Only one?"
"Yes, but it's not a room with a sea view, I'm afraid. It's a forest view," she explained, her voice apologetic.
Sakura immediately turned to Sasuke, who was clearly considering the offer. She wasn't surprised when he nodded. "It's fine," he said. "We'll take it."
The receptionist handed him the key to the room. "One more thing," she added. "The bed... it's a double."
"What does that mean?" Sasuke asked.
"Double means the bed is king size," said the receptionist
The moment the words left the receptionist's lips, Sasuke and Sakura froze. Their eyes locked. A wave of pink spread across both of their faces. Neither of them knew exactly what to say or do.
Sasuke's usual composure faltered for just a second, but he recovered quickly. He grabbed the key from the receptionist's hand, muttering, "It's not a problem."
Sakura, her cheeks burning brighter, glanced down at the floor. "Right... no problem," she echoed, her voice a little higher than usual.
As they turned to leave, their eyes met once more, and both blushed even harder, the awkwardness hanging between them like an invisible fog. Sasuke was the first to break the silence, clearing his throat. "Let's just... get to the room."
Sakura tried to suppress a giggle, but failed. "Yeah. Sure." She said, barely able to control the laughter bubbling up inside her.
Things like going somewhere, looking for a hotel and strangely in the whole land there was only one room available for them and coincidentally this room only had a king size bed inside, only happened in romance books. If Sakura told this story to Ino she would surely laugh and say "Yes, believable. Coincidentally this misfortune happened to you Forehead."
If she hadn't died of heartbreak by now, Sakura thought it would never happen. In less than 24 hours, Sasuke Uchiha, the boy she had dreamed of and loved her whole life, had told her he loved her with a piece of paper. The words she had thought she would never hear from him she heard...technically she read them but that didn't matter. What mattered was that he truly felt them, as long as he had the courage to tell her.
Now they would share a bed together for the first time..."Fucking luck." Sakura said to herself.
As they made their way to the room, Sasuke's mind was racing. The moment the receptionist had mentioned the double bed, his usual calm demeanor faltered. Sharing a bed... with Sakura?
His mind went into overdrive. 'It's just a bed. A bed... with Sakura...' He felt his cheeks flush slightly, and his usual cool exterior suddenly felt too hot. Why did she have to look at me like that?
He tried to focus on anything else—anything—but all he could picture was that bed. There's only one bed. In the same room. With her.
His stomach churned, and he quickly shoved the thought away. 'I'm not some kid who gets embarrassed by something like this...' But deep down, he knew the truth. He was.