Sasuke, Sakura, and her parents sat around the table to eat. He glanced at the spread before him—rice, miso soup, tempura, grilled fish, and a large bowl of salad. But it was the unmistakable presence of tomatoes in nearly every dish that caught his attention.

From the miso soup to the rice, even the tempura seemed to have been thoughtfully garnished with slices of tomato. Sasuke blinked, a little surprised. His mind wandered to how Sakura had been so particular about her food preferences all these years, and now, Sakura's mother, Mebuki, had somehow arranged an entire dinner centered around them. It felt… nice.

"This must be an overload of tomatoes," Sasuke commented softly as he picked up a piece of grilled fish.

Kizashi, Sakura's father, beamed. "Well, after hearing from Sakura about your likes and dislikes, Mebuki made sure to include your favorites. She said it's important for a man to feel comfortable when he's visiting his future in-laws, so we tried to put together a meal that you'd enjoy."

Sasuke blinked in surprise. He didn't know Sakura had gone out of her way to tell her parents about his likes. The thought warmed him, and he shot a glance at Sakura. She was poking at her rice, clearly trying not to look at him too much.

"Thank you," Sasuke said sincerely, offering a small nod of appreciation to both Kizashi and Mebuki.

The table fell into a comfortable silence as they all began eating. Sasuke could feel the awkwardness of the situation hanging in the air, though.

Sakura couldn't help but silently beg to herself. 'Please, please let this night go smoothly. No embarrassing questions, no loud remarks. Just… normal.'

But as soon as she finished, her father's voice rang out, breaking the silence.

"Sasuke," Kizashi began, eyes twinkling mischievously, "How beautiful do you think my daughter is?"

Sakura's eyes widened. She quickly shot Sasuke a look of pure desperation, but Sasuke, of course, didn't catch the hint. He blinked slowly and awkwardly cleared his throat.

"Sakura is very beautiful," Sasuke replied, his voice even but betraying the faintest hint of discomfort.

Sakura groaned inwardly, slouching a little in her seat. Her face turned a shade of red that could rival the color of her hair.

Kizashi grinned widely, clearly enjoying this. "Of course, of course. I mean, I've always thought she was beautiful, but it's nice to hear it from someone else. But tell me, Sasuke—has she always been this pretty? Or did she grow on you?"

Sakura's mind was racing with thoughts of a quick escape. Could she just dive under the table and pretend she wasn't part of this awkwardness? But it was too late—Kizashi was on a roll.

Sasuke cleared his throat again, his usual calm demeanor faltering just a little. "She's… always been beautiful. Naturally, over the years she has grown and become even more beautiful."

The whole table seemed to pause. Mebuki smiled at the sentiment, a proud twinkle in her eye, while Sakura's face turned even more crimson. She shot another glare at her father, but he only chuckled, undeterred by his daughter's obvious embarrassment.

Sakura shifted in her seat, trying to redirect the conversation before it spiraled into more of an emotional battlefield. "So, um— the fish turned out really good tonight. It's delicious, right?"

"Ah, yes!" Mebuki chimed in, taking the opportunity to steer the conversation away from her daughter's love life. "I think the seasoning was just right this time. Not too salty, not too bland. You two should try it."

But of course, her father wasn't done yet.

"So," Kizashi continued, wiping his mouth with a napkin, "Sasuke, tell me—have you had other girlfriends before?"

Sasuke stiffened slightly. His usual response would've been to avoid such questions entirely, but given the situation, he couldn't very well just remain silent.

"No," Sasuke said, after a pause. "Sakura is the first and the last for me."

There was a brief moment of stunned silence. Sakura's hand shot up to cover her face as she groaned softly.

"That's very romantic, Sasuke," Mebuki said with a fond smile, clearly touched by his words.

Sakura's eyes widened in horror as her father's smirk deepened. "Really now, Sasuke? The first and the last? I didn't know you were such a sentimental guy."

Sasuke gave a stiff nod. "I don't need anyone else. Sakura is perfect, she can't be compared to anyone else."

Mebuki beamed at Sakura. "See, dear? How sweet."

"I— Dad the fish really is good tonight, isn't it?" Sakura blurted out, desperate to shift the focus.

"Yes my dear, there's no need to comment on the fish several times. We have more serious conversations ahead," Kizashi said with a smirk on his face, overjoyed by the embarrassment his daughter was feeling. He had been waiting his whole life for this day.

Sasuke breathed a sigh of relief, silently praying to God that this situation wouldn't get any more awkward.

"I've heard," Kizashi said, "that in big clans like yours, like the Hyuga, there are these special lessons for kids. You know, teaching them everything they need to know about life, right? Preparing them for the world, and all that?"

Sasuke, who was just about to take another bite of his fish, raised an eyebrow. "Yeah, you heard right. There are lessons for kids. They teach you things like how to sew, cook, behave properly in society… There were also drills, training hours, and stories about clan members."

Kizashi's laughter echoed through the room, clearly amused. "I can just picture it now," he said between chuckles, "Fugaku with a bowl in his hand, standing in front of the whole clan, saying, 'Today, we will learn how to make a cake.' Or maybe, 'Gather 'round, children, today we'll learn how to sew a tear in a dress!' " Kizashi doubled over in laughter at the very thought, imagining a stern Fugaku giving cake-baking instructions or threading needles.

Sasuke blinked a few times, clearly unsure of how to react to Kizashi's mental image. He had no idea how to respond to that kind of scenario. Meanwhile, Sakura's face it was like she had just seen a ghost. She slammed her forehead into the table with an exasperated sigh.

"Oh my god, Dad…" Sakura muttered, trying to hide her face behind her hand. "I'm so sorry, Sasuke-kun. My dad … you know over years that he has a sense of humor but not always in the best timing."

Mebuki kicked Kizashi under the table, her eyes wide with a warning glare. Kizashi looked at her, his grin not fading one bit.

"Come on, it was funny!" Kizashi said, still laughing.

Sasuke, who had been silently enduring the whole ordeal, took a quick sip of tea, clearly trying to stay calm. But Kizashi wasn't done yet. Not by a long shot.

He straightened up and turned back to Sasuke with a sudden serious expression, almost as if he were asking an important question. "Sasuke, let me ask you something important," he began, lowering his voice as if the conversation had turned suddenly critical. "Did these lessons teach you everything you needed to know about… well, the more intimate parts of life? You know, how to be… protected and all that?"

Sasuke's eyes widened, his throat tightening as he suddenly choked on his tea. He coughed violently, his face turning a shade of crimson.

"W-What?!" Sasuke sputtered, looking at Kizashi as if he'd just asked the most absurd thing possible.

Sakura's eyes widened in horror as she shot up from her seat. "DAD!" she screamed, her face so red it could rival the setting sun. "You do not ask personal questions like that! Are you seriously asking Sasuke about his—about that?!"

Kizashi blinked innocently, clearly not understanding the gravity of the situation. "Well, it's an important topic, right? Every father needs to make sure his daughter's boyfriend is properly educated about these things."

Sasuke, still trying to recover from the shock, tried to regain some composure, but it wasn't easy. He cleared his throat awkwardly, rubbing the back of his neck. "I, uh… we did receive lessons like that. But I don't think it's really something we need to be discussing right now."

Mebuki was sitting at the table, trying her best not to burst out laughing at how incredibly awkward everything had become. "Kizashi!" she scolded, swatting his arm. "There are boundaries! You can't just ask someone these kinds of questions!"

Kizashi, looking completely oblivious to the tension in the room, shrugged and leaned back in his chair. "What? I'm just making sure the kid knows what's important. They are still young to become parents, let them enjoy their relationship as much as possible and why not as actively as possible."

Sakura buried her face in her hands, groaning. "I can't believe this is happening… Dad, you're… I don't know what you are! "

Sakura couldn't take it anymore and let out a deep breath. "Let's just… eat. Please. No more questions like that, alright?"

Kizashi, still grinning mischievously, nodded. "Alright, alright. No more questions. But just so you know, Sasuke, if you ever need more life lessons, you know where to find me."

Sasuke blinked and slowly lowered his gaze to his plate, wondering how he had gotten roped into this bizarre family dinner in the first place. The food was good, though. At least there was that.

Just as he took another bite, Kizashi broke the silence with a casual question. "So, Sasuke, how's everything going at the police station? I heard you've been putting in a lot of hours lately."

Sasuke chewed thoughtfully before responding. "It's been... busy. But it's manageable."

Kizashi nodded in understanding. "It's a tough job, but someone's gotta do it, right?"

Sasuke was about to answer when suddenly, his mind flashed to an odd piece of advice he had read in one of Sai's ridiculous "relationship books". Tip number three: "Ask her father about his career, but do so in a way that makes it sound like you're genuinely interested. Pretend to have read all of his work and praise it. This will flatter him."

"Kizashi-san," Sasuke began, his voice just a little too stiff, "I've heard you have a very successful herbal medicine business. I assume you've written a lot of, uh, guides or books on the subject? I'd love to know more about your work."

Sakura's eyes shot wide open, and she immediately started choking on her rice. Kizashi looked pleasantly surprised, while Mebuki shot Sasuke a proud, approving smile.

"Well, you're right about that," Kizashi said, rubbing his hands together enthusiastically. "I've been working with herbal medicine for over 30 years. My guides on the art of healing herbs are quite well-known in certain circles. I've written several books on the subject—one of them even got featured in a medicinal journal! And don't get me started on my proprietary recipes; they're top secret."

Sasuke nodded seriously, trying to keep the conversation going. He had no idea what he was doing, but somehow he found himself following the advice.

"I've heard the one on 'Alternative Healing for the Modern Shinobi' is particularly… groundbreaking? I've read bits of it. Very enlightening."

Sakura almost dropped her chopsticks. "Sasuke-kun you've never read any of those books."

Sasuke kicked Sakura under the table to stop her from talking. Sakura widened her eyes and kicked her too but this time with force and Sasuke groaned in pain.

"What's wrong son?" Kizashi asked confused.

"Nothing, I bit my cheek lightly, it's nothing," Sasuke said as a smile grew on his face, "as I was saying I read that book and it really appealed to me."

Kizashi smiled. "You know, it's not easy to write a book that appeals to both medical ninjas and regular civilians. I've had to work hard to balance the technical stuff with something more accessible…"

Sasuke gave a small nod, looking completely out of his element. The more Kizashi spoke, the more Sasuke realized he had absolutely no idea what was being said. He wasn't sure if he was supposed to compliment the healing powers of herbs or not, but he kept nodding, pretending to understand.

"Of course, the real secret is understanding the natural energy of plants," Kizashi continued, completely oblivious to Sasuke's increasing confusion. "You can't just pick any herb and expect it to work. You have to build a connection with them, like how a shinobi builds a connection with their chakra. However, you will understand their value once you get married, or maybe even before marriage."

"When...then...Why?" Sasuke asked.

Kizashi smirked. "Well, there are plants for every function, son. Functions that a man might need in the future."

Sakura, realizing what her father was up to, blushed and looked at him with threatening eyes while Mebuki was pinching his arms so that he wouldn't talk.

"I don't understand," Sasuke said confused.

"It's nothing Sasuke-kun, don't listen to my dear husband. When it comes to medicinal plants, he never stops talking," Mebuki said, laughing embarrassedly.

Sasuke was looking at them confused and took the cup of tea. He didn't know what else to talk to him about.

"Don't leave the boy confused. There's nothing to be ashamed of here. Dear Sasuke, I was talking about you understanding the benefits of medicinal herbs in the near future because there are some that take sexual performance to another level," Kizashi said.

With that, he choked and started coughing. He was so red that it didn't look much different from the tomatoes on the table. He had thought of every situation, but he had failed to foresee this. As he turned his gaze to Sakura, he saw that she was just as embarrassed as he was.

Sakura's face was now as red as her hair. She buried her face in her hands, groaning. "This is so embarrassing… Dad, you said you wouldn't talk about this topic anymore!"

Sasuke glanced at her briefly, the hint of a smirk tugging at his lips. At least he now had a new reason to tease her about these interesting medicinal plants later.

Mebuki, sensing the awkward tension from the herbal medicine topic, decided to steer the conversation in a new direction. She leaned forward with a warm, curious smile.

"So, how did you two fall in love?" she asked, her eyes twinkling with curiosity. "Tell us your love story."

Sakura widened her eyes ."Mom, you really want to know?"

"Oh, absolutely!" Mebuki said, looking at her daughter with a proud, expectant grin. "We've been waiting for years to hear about it!"

Kizashi added, "You two have been so secretive about it. We already suspected something, but now we want the real story!"

Sakura glanced at Sasuke, who was suddenly very focused on the rice in front of him. She rubbed the back of her neck, trying to think of a casual way to start.

She started hesitantly. "I think I always had feelings for him, even when we were kids, though Sasuke-kun was never really, you know, expressive about his feelings."

Kizashi nodded sagely. "Ah, yes. Sasuke was always a quiet one. We could tell you were fond of each other from the start. But I can tell you were obsessed with him Sakura."

"Obsessed with me?" Sasuke asked.

"Yes, god you can't imagine. In our house, the only thing we talked about was 'Sasuke-kun this, Sasuke-kun that'. I realized she had something more to do with you than just a friend."

Sasuke smirked and looked at Sakura. "I didn't know about that."

"From the moment Sakura met you at the academy, she talked about you non-stop."

Sakura nearly choked on her rice. "D-Dad!" she squeaked, her face immediately turning red.

"No, really," Kizashi continued, oblivious to Sakura's mounting embarrassment. "She would tell us everything. 'Sasuke did this in class, Sasuke did that. He's so smart, he's so talented!' She even said that you were the most handsome boy in all of Konoha."

Sakura slammed her hands down on the table, practically sinking into her chair. "I did not!" she protested loudly, her voice full of desperation.

Sasuke, who had been silently listening to the exchange, raised an eyebrow and smirked. "Oh?" he said, leaning forward slightly. "Now, this is interesting."

Sakura shot him a pleading look, but he only grinned in return, clearly enjoying the teasing.

Mebuki, trying to hide her own amusement, couldn't help but chime in. "It was a daily topic in our house, Sasuke. She never got you out of her mind, ever. She'd talk about you in the mornings, at night, during dinner, even when she was doing her homework." She winked at her daughter, who was now thoroughly mortified.

Sakura buried her face in her hands, her voice muffled. "Please, stop... You're going to kill me."

Kizashi wasn't quite finished, though. "Ahh, but I really need to tell you the best part. You won't believe what happened one Valentine's Day, Sasuke. It was when Sakura was 14."

Sakura froze, eyes wide in horror. "Dad... no. Please don't—"

Kizashi, ignoring his daughter's obvious plea, carried on. "You see, Sakura had gone out of her way to prepare some dark chocolate for you. She worked so hard on it! She wanted to give you something special, something from her heart. But on the way to find you..." Kizashi paused for dramatic effect. "She saw you with another girl from the Uchiha clan. And that girl gave you chocolate. And you... you accepted it."

Sasuke blinked, a bit stunned.

"You can imagine what happened next," Kizashi continued, his voice full of exaggerated seriousness. "Sakura came back home devastated. She didn't give you the chocolate she'd made. Instead, she locked herself in her room and cried for hours. I mean, hours, Sasuke. We were so worried. We didn't know what was wrong, but she wouldn't say anything. We thought we had some kind of major emotional crisis on our hands!"

Meanwhile, Sakura was wiping herself with a tissue to relieve the embarrassment she was feeling. Sasuke didn't need to know these things! She had been very young and immature. "I can't take this anymore."

Kizashi gave her a playful look. "But Sakura, we didn't even get to the good part! It wasn't until later that Ino came over and told us everything. She said it all. How you had cried in your room, how you felt so left out."

Sasuke, who had been silently listening, suddenly felt a pang of guilt. He remembered that Valentine's Day. He'd received chocolate from practically every girl in the academy, including that girl from the his clan, but the thought of Sakura not giving him anything was what really stuck out in his mind.

Itachi and Shisui had been teasing him all day, asking him if he was really heartbroken because Sakura hadn't given him any gifts for this day.

Sakura groaned, sinking into her chair again, completely defeated. "I can't believe you're telling him this."

Sasuke, despite himself, found himself chuckling a little at how utterly Sakura this all was. He'd known that Sakura had always been emotional, but hearing it from her father's perspective made him realize just how much she cared.

With a small but genuine smile, Sasuke looked up at Sakura. "I... I'm sorry that I didn't realize how much that upset you. I was an idiot."

Sakura, trying to hide the tiny blush creeping up her neck, shrugged awkwardly. "Not was, you still are," she mumbled, her voice quieter. "But it's fine. It was a long time ago anyway."

"Now I want to know more about you tonight," Mebuki said to Sasuke. "How did my beautiful daughter win your heart?"

Sasuke froze. His mind started whirling. 'Tip number two: Be affectionate. Hold hands with her in front of her parents to establish dominance.'

He was supposed to be affectionate. Dominance, whatever that meant. Maybe holding hands would do the trick. His gaze flickered over to Sakura, and he suddenly felt the weight of everyone's expectations.

He could feel Mebuki's eyes drilling into him, expecting an answer. Without thinking, Sasuke reached over and grabbed Sakura's hand. She blinked at him, eyes wide.

"I... I saw you differently at the academy," Sasuke muttered, trying to sound casual, as though he were reciting an actual love story instead of trying to follow some weird advice. "You were... different than the others. Smarter. Stronger."

Sakura stared at him, completely flustered. This wasn't like Sasuke. He wasn't the type to openly display affection, especially not in front of her parents. And why was he addressing her and not them as he spoke? What the hell was this?

He continued, "I started to realize you were... important to me."

Sakura's lips parted, but before she could speak, Sasuke raised her hand to his lips and kissed it softly.

Mebuki sighed, looking completely moved. "Oh, that's so sweet…"

Sakura's face was turning redder by the second. She quickly yanked her hand back, but Sasuke wasn't finished.

In an odd display of affection that he had never shown in public, Sasuke kissed her hand again, holding it there longer than necessary , he moved closer her to give her a kiss on the forehead and then another on the cheek.

Sakura blinked rapidly, unsure of what was happening. What was he doing? Still, she had to admit that this was very cute and a very big gesture from someone like him.

"This is very sweet, I didn't expect it from you Sasuke. I'm very proud. However, with all these kisses, I suggest you to not start the process for our grandson or granddaughter tonight. Do it another night when you're home alone.," said the kizashi as he started to laugh.

"Oh my god Dad, what are you talking about?!" Sakura said, shouting.

Mebuki clapped her hands together with a satisfied smile. "Well, I think it's time for dessert!" she announced. "Sasuke, I made a dark chocolate cake just for you. I know you don't like overly sweet things, so I thought you'd appreciate it."

Sasuke blinked, surprised. "Thank you," he muttered, unsure if he should feel grateful or embarrassed by the earlier events.

Mebuki then turned to Kizashi. "Sweetheart, why don't we give these two some time alone? You can help me with the dessert."

Kizashi, who had been trying to hide his grin at Sasuke's affectionate display, nodded enthusiastically. "Of course, dear."

They left the room, and for the first time that evening, Sasuke and Sakura were left alone at the table. There was an awkward silence, broken only by the sound of Sakura's hand suddenly flying to his arm.

"Ow!" Sasuke yelped, rubbing the spot where she had punched him. "What was that for?"

Sakura glared at him, her face flushed from a mix of embarrassment and frustration. "What exactly made you think you could just go around kissing me in front of my parents? And what's with the whole 'I've read your books' bit? I know you haven't read a single one of those herbal medicine books!"

Sasuke winced at her words, the heat rising in his cheeks. He shifted uncomfortably in his seat. "It... It wasn't my idea."

"Really?" Sakura raised an eyebrow. "Then whose idea was it, huh?"

Sasuke took a deep breath, trying to keep his cool. "Sai," he muttered.

Sakura's eyes widened. "Sai? Sai gave you those tips?"

Sasuke rubbed his face, trying to hide his frustration. "Yes. Sai and Naruto both gave me... tips today."

Sakura's eyes narrowed in disbelief. "Wait. You mean to tell me... you actually followed advice from Sai and Naruto? About how to act in front of my parents? You? Of all people?"

Sasuke sighed. "I... I thought they knew what they were talking about." He winced again as he remembered the ridiculous "relationship book". "I didn't want to mess up tonight."

Sakura blinked, clearly trying to keep a straight face. "Wow. You really thought about this dinner, huh?"

Sasuke, realizing just how much he had overthought everything, gave a small, almost embarrassed smile. "Of course I would think Sakura. This is an important dinner for us. You are important to me."

Sakura let out a small laugh, her annoyance fading. "Well, thank you then, Sasuke-kun."

Sasuke shrugged, looking slightly more relaxed now. "You're welcome," he said simply.

Sasuke looked at her for a moment, a mischievous glint appearing in his eyes. He let his gaze slowly travel down her outfit, taking in how she was dressed tonight.

She looked absolutely stunning. The soft glow of the lanterns around the room seemed to highlight every curve of her figure, every little detail that he found irresistible. Her neck—long, graceful, and just the right amount of delicate—made his mind wander to the most ridiculous places. Her skin seemed to glow, as if the night itself had fallen in love with her.

He let his gaze drift lower, where her long legs crossed elegantly beneath the table. Her dress—simple yet elegant—clung to her form just enough to make his breath catch. He couldn't stop admiring how effortlessly beautiful she looked, how every small movement seemed to capture the essence of her.

And then, her lips. He'd always known they were perfect, but tonight they seemed even fuller, more inviting. The way they curved when she smiled, or when she bit the corner of them in concentration, had his heart speeding up.

But it was her eyes—those bright, expressive eyes—that drew him in the most. They were sparkling with a mixture of amusement and warmth as she laughed at something her father said. Those eyes, always full of life and emotion, were his favorite thing to get lost in. They shined even brighter when she was near him, like they were always telling him how much she cared, even when words weren't necessary.

Sasuke found himself holding his breath as he looked at her. She wasn't just beautiful—she was everything to him. And the more he sat there, watching her with a quiet reverence, the more he realized just how lucky he was.

Sakura blinked, suddenly self-conscious. "What's wrong?" she asked, feeling a little uneasy under his gaze.

Sasuke smirked, his eyes never leaving her. "I'm just noticing... how beautiful you look tonight. You're looking very... hot."

Sakura's face immediately turned crimson, and she quickly slapped his arm. "Sasuke-kun! Shut up!"

But Sasuke only smiled wider. "What? I'm just telling the truth."

Sakura looked away, her heart racing from both his compliment and the teasing. "You're an idiot," she muttered, crossing her arms over her chest as she turned her head to hide the growing blush on her cheeks.

Sasuke, though still smirking, couldn't help but feel a sense of pride. He hadn't expected to get such a reaction from her, but it was more than worth it to see her all flustered.

"Well, just so you know," he said, trying to hide the faint smile tugging at his lips, "I meant it."

Sakura shot him a look but didn't say anything else, clearly too embarrassed to respond.

After they'd finished their dessert and shared another round of tea, Sasuke stood up, ready to leave. The air had settled into that peaceful, post-dinner lull.

"I should get going," he said, glancing at the clock. "Thanks for dinner. Everything was… great."

Sakura's family nodded in agreement, their smiles still wide after a warm, pleasant evening.

But as soon as Sasuke stepped out into the hallway, he stopped in his tracks. Through the window, the rain was coming down in sheets. The sky was dark, flashing occasionally with lightning.

"It's… pouring," Sasuke said, looking back at Sakura. "How did we not hear that?"

Kizashi chuckled, stepping out of the living room with Mebuki trailing behind. "Oh, the windows here are double-glazed. Insulated to keep the noise out," he explained casually. "We were so caught up in the conversation, none of us noticed."

Sakura frowned, walking over to the door. "I'll get you an umbrella."

She reached for the closet, only to pause, glancing back at her mother. "Uh… Mom, where did we put the umbrellas?"

Mebuki gave a sheepish smile. "Oh dear, it looks like both umbrellas were left at your fathers work. I completely forgot."

Sasuke waved a hand dismissively, trying to act like it was no big deal. "It's fine, really. I don't mind running out in the rain. I'll be fine."

Kizashi raised an eyebrow, his grin widening. "Sasuke-kun, come on. It's pointless to have you run out there in the storm. You can spend the night here."

Sasuke hesitated, looking at him, unsure of what was being suggested. "I don't want to disturb your comfort or anything. I'll just head home."

Mebuki, however, was quick to interject, a motherly tone filling her voice. "Oh no, no, no, Sasuke. You can't leave in weather like this. You'll catch a cold, and then I'd never forgive myself!"

Sasuke opened his mouth to protest, but she didn't give him the chance. "It's settled. You're staying the night."

Sakura, still standing by the door, blinked at the sudden change in plans. "I'll go prepare the guest room."

Kizashi burst out laughing. "Oh, come on! No need for all these formalities. You two don't need separate rooms—after all, you're already in a relationship!"

Sasuke's eyes widened as the words hung in the air. The atmosphere went from comfortable to incredibly awkward in seconds.

Sakura's face turned bright red. "Dad, what are you—?!"

Sasuke opened his mouth to respond, but the words were caught in his throat. "I…"

Kizashi, still laughing, slapped Sasuke on the back. "Don't be shy! I'm just saying, you're practically family now. You don't need to sleep in separate rooms like some traditionalists. Who am I , Fugaku?"

Sakura hit her forehead with her hand, honestly her father should stop comparing himself to Sasuke's father.

Sasuke's face was now a shade of red that was rivaling Sakura's. He could feel his heart pounding in his chest as he glanced at her. She was looking anywhere but at him.

"Dad, seriously!" Sakura hissed, her face nearly glowing from the intensity of her blush.

Sasuke didn't want to seem rude, but his face was still red as a tomato. He glanced at Sakura, whose expression was a mixture of horror and embarrassment.

"Well, I guess… I'm staying then," Sasuke said, unable to avoid it.

Sakura groaned, running her hand through her hair in frustration. "This is so not happening."

Kizashi's laughter echoed through the house. "It's already happening, Sakura! I don't understand what your problem is, you're not sleeping with a stranger but with your boyfriend, who you've probably shared a bed with many times and we don't know anything about. Come on, don't embarrass my future son-in-law."

After Sakura's parents had insisted that Sasuke stay for the night, Mebuki came back with a pair of soft, freshly laundered pajamas for him.

"You'll be more comfortable this way." She said with a warm smile.

Sasuke nodded, a little unsure of what was happening but too polite to refuse. "Thank you , Mebuki-san."

Once she left, Sasuke pulled out his phone, typing quickly. He sent a text to Itachi, "I'm staying the night at Sakura's. Her parents insisted."

Almost immediately, he received a response from his older brother: " Enjoy."

Sasuke frowned, furrowing his brow as he stared at the smirking emoji. "What's that supposed to mean?" he typed back, clearly annoyed.

Itachi's reply was swift: "Just enjoy the night. "

After a few minutes, Sasuke emerged from the bathroom, looking much more relaxed, wearing the soft cotton pajamas. He entered the room and looked at the bed, it was the first time they would share a bed. It had never even happened that they shared a room, maybe on their missions but they had all been as a team not just the two of them. Taking a deep breath to relax Sasuke opened the blanket to lie down.

Sakura, still avoiding looking at him, came into the room in her own pajamas: a purple set with a giant, comical rabbit on the front.

Sasuke blinked. Then, he burst out laughing.

Sakura whipped around, her cheeks going red. "What's so funny?" she demanded, crossing her arms defensively.

Sasuke, struggling to contain his laughter, pointed at her pajamas. "It's just—your pajamas... they remind me of someone from my clan."

Sakura's eyes narrowed. "Someone from your clan? Who?"

He raised an eyebrow, still trying to stifle a chuckle. "A little girl who's about four years old."

Sakura froze, her face going even redder. "Wait... are you saying my pajamas make me look like a child ?!"

Sasuke quickly shook his head. "No! It's not like that! Well… maybe a bit.."

She pulled the covers back and climbed into the bed, turning her back toward Sasuke. "I'm just going to sleep. It's been a long day," she muttered.

Sasuke, still standing awkwardly near the bed, looked at her. She had clearly shut down, and he didn't want to push her. But there was a nagging feeling in the pit of his stomach.

He finally climbed into bed beside her, his back stiff and unsure. "Okay... But what's wrong with you? You're acting all irritated."

Sakura exhaled loudly, trying to ignore him. "It's just... embarrassing. Sleeping in the same bed as you, and... and everything else." She clutched the covers tighter, her face now buried in the pillow.

Sasuke blinked. "We are a couple."

Sakura threw a glare over her shoulder at him. "And ?"

He let out a soft chuckle. "I don't get it. What's so embarrassing about it?"

Sakura groaned into her pillow. "Everything. Everything is embarrassing right now. The pajamas. The bed. You. Me. Everything!"

Sasuke, still not fully understanding, let out a small sigh. "Well, don't worry. I won't bite you or anything."

Sakura lifted her head from the pillow, eyeing him warily. "I didn't say that."

"So, you want me to bite you?"

"Shut up!" Sakura said as she threw her pillow at him.

Sakura shifted in bed, trying to find the most comfortable position as she lay there, acutely aware of the warmth next to her. Sasuke was beside her, so close, and the thought of him being here... in her room... in her bed... made her heart flutter with nerves she hadn't anticipated.

She cleared her throat and glanced over at him. "Don't move too much tonight. I'm a light sleeper, and I get really annoyed if I'm woken up."

Sasuke didn't even look at her at first. "Okay, boss," he said with a teasing grin, his voice low and amused.

Sakura rolled her eyes but couldn't fight the small smile that tugged at her lips. She tried to settle back into the pillow, but then, out of nowhere, she felt a light pressure on her waist. Sasuke had turned toward her, his hand resting just above her hip. His touch wasn't demanding, but it was warm and solid, making her heart skip a beat.

She didn't move away. Instead, she stayed there. She should have said something. She should've teased him back. But somehow, she couldn't—because the way his hand rested there made her feel... comfortable. Safe. Warm. It wasn't something she was used to, but it felt... good.

Sasuke, noticing her silence, smirked just a little. He slowly slid his hand down to gently rub her stomach, his fingers moving in small, calming circles. The motion was light but enough to send a ripple of warmth through her body.

Sakura's breath caught in her throat. "Sasuke-kun..." she started, her voice trembling slightly, but she didn't finish. She didn't need to. He could tell how embarrassed she was.

Feeling that embarrassment, he teased her further, his fingers continuing their gentle path across her skin. "What's wrong, Sakura? Too much?" His voice was playful, and she could almost hear the smirk in his words.

Sakura, despite the warmth spreading across her cheeks, found herself moving closer to him. It was involuntary, a small shift for comfort, but she didn't pull away. His touch had a way of making her feel less tense, less self-conscious, and she liked it.

He leaned in then, his lips brushing against her neck. The soft press of his lips sent a shiver down her spine, and she couldn't suppress the small, startled gasp that escaped her. "Sasuke…" she whispered, her voice breathy, as he moved to kiss just below her ear, lingering there for a moment.

She could feel his lips against her skin, the warmth of his breath, and something inside her stirred. It had been a while since their last kiss, and she realized how much she'd missed him. Without thinking, she turned toward him, their faces inches apart now.

Sasuke met her halfway, his lips finding hers in a soft, sweet kiss. It wasn't rushed, but it was tender. He took his time, savoring the moment, letting the quiet intimacy between them settle into something deeper.

Sakura kissed him back, her fingers lightly brushing against his chest, a soft smile playing on her lips as they pulled away for just a moment. "I missed this," she whispered, her voice barely above a breath.

Sasuke's gaze softened as he looked at her. "Me too. This is... a sign of apology," he said quietly. "For making you upset that day, with the chocolates."

Sakura let out a soft laugh, the sound light and teasing. She rolled her eyes in mock exasperation, though the smile tugging at her lips was more than enough to show she wasn't really annoyed. "Sasuke, not again with the chocolates..." she sighed, shaking her head slightly. "I told you it's in the past."

Sasuke smirked, brushing a strand of hair from her face. "I know. But I still feel like I should apologize."

She could feel the sincerity in his words, even if the topic made her want to bury her face in the pillow and never hear about it again. "Well, I'm not going to let you get away with it that easily," she teased, her voice softening as she leaned in to kiss him again, deeper this time, feeling the familiar warmth of his lips against hers.

The kiss lingered for a moment longer, and when they pulled away, their faces were close, their breaths mingling. Sasuke's gaze softened as he looked into her eyes, his hand resting gently on her side.

"Good night, Sasuke-kun," she said, her voice a little shy but still full of warmth.

He smiled, a soft curve of his lips. "Good night, Sakura."

Sakura closed her eyes, her heart still racing from the kiss, but this time, it was peaceful. It was the kind of night she could get used to.