The Nearest Star

By: WhisperedSilvers

Prompt: "Part of me believes you'll still come back."

Summary: The quest for strength comes from the spirit or in this case, the soul.

X

equinox

"Wake up, Forehead!" Ino's voice rang in collusion with a stream of muffled banging – her fists and they were rapping against her door continuously, "Aren't you, hosting?"

Sakura's brain muddled with the thickness of a dark heavy sleep, stuttered in processing. She blinked hazily, when the words registered in her brain, she groaned deep in her throat and nestled herself back into her blankets, but Ino's voice was like a beacon on the darkest day…or the shrieking of a pelican in the midst of a hurricane, "Go away."

Ino's voice shifted to a giggly, obnoxious tenor and she sang, "You're wanted, Haruno-sama."

Minato materialized beside her, even he managed to look sleepy, he twisted his face and looked at her, "Are you?"

Sakura buried her face into her pillows, her voice muffled, "No. I quit. I'm staying in my bed and not moving."

Ino snorted against the door, "Unlikely. Get up, we have to greet all the high-rank officials and then Hokage-sama wants to see you."

Sakura grumbled something incoherent into her pillow. She shifted her weight to her knees and arched upwards into a stretch. Huffing, she quickly fell back on her haunches and rubbed her eyes, "Damn it."

Minato groaned and rolled over.

When she stumbled out of bed, eyes half-clear, she grabbed a fresh roll of clothes that she left last night on her chair next to her desk. Things, in a nutshell, became almost mundane. Sakura could barely remember when Minato fell into her or maybe it was the other way around. A month, roughly, if she had to think about it. It was no different than having a conscience, except he had free will—she shook her minutely as she walked into her bathroom. That was something she had to think about later.

As a spirit – if the term was correct – he wasn't very nosy. She had expected probing, the tight, migraine-brewing focus, that made her eyes throb and her temples pulse. Minato was like water, everywhere she didn't want him to be, it wasn't pinpricking scrutiny, it was more of a quiet observation. Unraveling, it thrummed beneath her fingertips, tangled into chakra, and simmered.

She was also going to ignore the fact, that perhaps, Minato fell asleep in her bed.

Tossing her toothbrush into her cup, she splashed some water onto her face and slapped her face to give it some color. Her diplomatic ensemble consisted of black velvet shinobi pants, a deep red, silk, high-neck armless blouse, that cut just beneath her navel, and flowed behind her like a river. Green imprints of leaves stitched on the left side of her top that traveled to the cut of her blouse.

Tying her ambassador armband to her right bicep, she gave her long hair a quick brush – even though Ino would prodding it as soon as she steps foot out of her bathroom – and headed towards the door.

"I'm up," Sakura sighed, "You better have breakfast."

"I got cake and coffee," Ino pulled out an assortment of cakes from a bakery downtown, "I think there are a couple of chocolate tarts too."

"Oh thank God," she shoved a tart into her mouth and hummed at the bitterness of the cacao. Sugar and caffeine, just what she needed to get through the day.

"Hey," Ino frowned, "Don't mess up your clothes, do you know how long it took me to find that top—silk too? Four days! As much as I love custom clothing," she referred to her blue blouse with green leaf stitching, "Finding tailors this close to the event was cutting it."

"I'll be sure sensei gets the message," Sakura snapped a strawberry off of a sponge cake, "Coffee?"

"With soy milk," the blonde handed her a carton, "Just tell me: I'm a great friend."

"You're a great friend, pig," she replied disingenuously and sipped her coffee, "Seriously after you left—I had so much work to do."

"I thought you finished all the preparations—stop moving," Ino's lips twisted, as she brushed Sakura's hair, spraying a wet oil at the ends, "All you had to do was the expense sheet and something else, right?"

She grabbed a blackberry tart that was filled with lemon cream, cracking the shell with her fork, she answered, "I had some reports to fill out. Some for the hospital and then some were for Kakashi-sensei. Tsunade-sama had me go through some things too."

Tugging Sakura's hair into a small bun, Ino pulled a few strands to frame her face, and inquired, "What things?"

She's fishing, Minato interrupted her brain.

The banter and ease of the conversation is what lulled Sakura into a false sense of security, she twisted her fork into the cream, a deliberate movement that made her seem absentminded, "Some scrolls for a chakra swap — I think I sent you the file on Yuki."

It wasn't exactly a lie.

Ino thought back, "Yeah," she winced, "Sorry, I haven't looked at it. My team is a handful."

Sakura chuckled, "It's fine. How is your team?"

Ino grabbed her plate and placed it back on the counter. Grabbing a powder she swirled the compact with a kabuki brush, "It's going. They kind of remind me of Gai-sensei's team."

Minato winced.

"Oh no," she gasped into a laugh, "You have a little Lee don't you?"

"Worse—close your eyes, " Ino scowled and grabbed the eyeliner, "A Neji."

Sakura giggled, "You have your work cut out for you."

"I swear I'm this close to wringing his neck," she muttered, flicking out the wing, she buffed eyeshadow on her lash line, "Why did they stick me with a Hyuuga anyway?"

"Experience?"

"And what experience is that?"

Sakura rolled her eyes as her blonde bud patted her down with blush and sipped her coffee, "Pretty boys."

Ino paused, her hand hung in mid-air and then she continued to rummage into her bag, "You know, you may be onto something," she ignored her smirk, "Now hush, let me finish."

With Ino's skills, it took a few moments, then she leaned back and smiled in acceptance, "Alright, forehead. Let's go."

—

"Kazekage-sama," Sakura bowed before Gaara and then smiled, "It is a pleasure to have you in the Leaf."

Gaara motioned for the guards to scatter, then he took a seat on the couch and rolled his eyes, "I think you're spending a little too much time in the Hokage Tower, Sakura."

She breathed a laugh, "Honestly, I think I agree with you."

The door opened revealing the other two sand siblings, Kankuro came at her first, "Sakura!" he pulled her into a hug, "How are you doing?"

"Hands off, puppet-boy," Temari snorted and tugged her until she was sitting on the couch next to her, "I apologize for him, Sakura. He's been itching to leave Suna."

Sakura chuckled and Minato materialized next to her. He sat perch on the arm of the couch and glanced at her with surprise. She asked, "Why is that?"

"Because the council is pressuring us to find a suitor," Kankuro grumbled and plopped down next to her, "I have better things to do, you know?"

Emerald eyes stared, "For…you?" then she flickered her gaze over to Gaara, who was scowling and gasped dramatically, "No."

Gaara sighed, "Sakura."

"Oh, c'mon," Sakura laughed at the tone of his voice, "You knew this was going to happen sooner or later."

"I was hoping…for the latter," he said dryly.

"Do you have anyone in mind?" the head-medic asked good-naturedly, her blouse pooling around her like fire, "I could ask around…"

Temari bit the inside of her cheek from laughing, instead, she looked at her pointedly and then raised a brow.

Sakura heard the warning bells before she saw them. Quickly, she snapped that train of conversation before they could delve onto a more personal level. Clearing her throat, she went on, "Anyway—"

I didn't realize you were so well sought after, Sakura, Minato sounded almost mocking.

"—I came to give you the official schedule for the next three days," Sakura placed the pamphlets on the table, "I will be your representative for the Leaf for the duration of your stay. If you need anything, you know where to find me."

"The hospital?" Kankuro smirked.

"With Naruto?" Temari countered.

Gaara stared blankly at their banter.

"About," Sakura glared half-heartedly, "Or with sensei."

"Hatake still yanking your chain?"

Temari slapped the back of Kankuro's head.

Sakura sighed, "Anyway," she stood up, "I'll see you guys tonight. I assigned a genin team to run your errands or if you need a guide—though, I doubt you guys need one."

"We appreciate the sentiment, Sakura," Gaara nodded his head, "Shizune-san is in the Hokage's office if you would like to see her."

Sakura waved it off, "Maybe later," rolling her shoulders, she walked to the door and gave him a look, "I have a long day."

It took free will to prevent her from jumping out the window, diplomacy took patience and a blank face. The inn, for some reason, felt like a maze, it twisted and it turned. When she found the reception area, nodded at the secretary, slid the door open and inhaled the sunlight—she inhaled deep enough to open the synapses in her brain.

"Well," Minato appeared next to her, he smiled wryly, "That was exciting."

"Your comments are unnecessary," Sakura pointed out with irritation, "Gaara and I go way back."

"The chunin exams, right?"

"Yes," she looked at him strangely, "But how do you—Naruto told you?"

"He didn't have to," Minato answered cryptically, "I find it fascinating that you can talk to him that easily, seeing how he almost killed you."

Then it clicked.

Sakura demanded, "How much of my memory did you see?"

He winced, his face smoothened, eyebrows knotting in a way that reminded you of Naruto, he replied slowly, "I didn't mean to…when you sleep your subconscious sort of flickers."

"What do you mean?" she frowned.

"It's like a film cartridge, your memories are spun and sometimes they disappear," he continued as they walked down the village path, "Sometimes I hear voices and then other times it's like I'm right there watching."

Sakura's lips thinned.

"It's not like I'm diving into your memory bank," Minato inserted quickly, "I think you would feel that."

To be honest, she's not sure what she would feel.

"Probably," she commented vaguely, "But you still didn't answer the question. How much of my memory did you see?"

"I don't really know," Minato answered honestly, "It's bits and pieces. I remember seeing a cat—Tora I think."

She breathed a laugh, a thrill that clicked against the roof of her mouth and replied, "Oh. That."

Adjustment. In hindsight, it was better for her to accept that Minato had practically leeched onto her like a set of slugs, she was human and there were parts of her life she didn't want anyone to see. That's just how it is. Feeling vulnerable and being it too, it was simply unacceptable.

It got harder to hide things from him, her entire life, her goal was in search of power, in search of strength and part of it, unfortunately, was Sasuke. When she looked back at how far she came, how far she had run, it was almost childish and embarrassing. She partly blamed her mental state – the entirety of Konoha Eleven's mental state as well.

They were kids—adolescents, fighting in a stagnant war.

Sakura had been chasing Sasuke for years and years. Sasuke left on his own accord, he left without a care and part of her, part of her wanted to believe that he left to protect her. In some screwed up, damsel in distress, novel-like intricate part, that he left because he thought, in his own fucked up rhetoric, that, that was his only option.

But Sakura was almost twenty-one now and when she looked back at her own reasonings; she was surprised no one had ever scolded her or confronted her on her own illusions. Some part of her was grateful for Sasuke, because he put her in a position where she had to find herself. However, doesn't it justify her own dreams of wanting Sasuke to come back to the village?

To find the answer to that question, she turned to Hinata. Hinata who grew up within a strict, tightly-knit clan, with an even more rigid upbringing as heir. She grimaced and said, "There were times when I wanted to run away. Neji-nii was the same. A caged bird. We wanted to make our own decisions and live by our own rules, but clans don't work that way. We were trapped. If I had a chance to leave I'd take it," she inhaled deeply here, "I know it's selfish of me, but when had anyone ever asked me what I wanted?"

Sakura, in turn, mulled over their conversation.

Even if they managed to bring Sasuke back, what good would it do, if he was just going to try and leave again?

She had chased Sasuke for years; he was her dream.

Naruto had also chased Sasuke, but to him, it wasn't a dream. His drive was made from desperation and ambition. He had no illusions. It was a goal and it was unacceptable for it to remain a dream because Naruto grew up in a world where the world was against him, he didn't have the time to fancy ideals and planning. He took and he took and he ran.

Sakura was made up of ideals, thoughts, plans, and structure. Where one play fell apart, she had something to fall back on.

She had always been a genjutsu type, but could never truly dispel illusions, it was ironic, given that cognitive thought, analyzing and processing had always been in her strong suit.

Now, she was still the same.

She was still full of plans and ideals, but somewhere along the road, Naruto and Sakura's drives had flipped.

Naruto's head was full of dreams and wonderment because he truly did not understand what it meant to be at a disadvantage to have nothing and create something. She wouldn't be as cruel to say that he didn't understand what pain was, but he didn't know the feeling of insufficiency.

Sakura had to wonder if it was her logic that strengthened or her acceptance, that things will never be the same.

Or maybe, she just grew up.

—

"Sensei," Sakura popped her head in from the door, "Do you think—oh!"

Minato peered into the door above her.

"Mikan-sama," she walked into the room slowly and bowed lowly, "We were not expecting you for another hour."

"Sakura-san," the Daimyo greeted, his black hair tied tightly at the crown of his head, he inclined his head downward in recognition, "Our voyage was quicker than we initially believed it to be."

"All is well," she nodded and smiled politely. Facing the Hokage, she asked, "I assume Sasuke is back as well?"

Kakashi nodded, "At HQ. I can summon if you would like."

Sakura shook her head, "It's fine. I need to go there anyway."

Minato's eyebrows furrowed, something is strange.

Sakura's jaw eased, what do you mean?

Kakashi has that look in his eye, Minato glanced over to the Daimyo, the same look where he watched Obito hide beneath a bush of poison ivy and said nothing.

Well, that couldn't be good.

"Unless you needed me for something, Hokage-sama," she waited for a moment. Contrary to belief, Sakura's instincts were on par with Naruto's. She knew she was walking into the trap, but it would be better to walk into one knowingly, then blind.

Interesting tactic, Minato mused I can't tell if it's foolish or brave.

Sakura's eyebrow almost twitched, is there a difference?

Minato's laugh tickled the back of her eyelids.

"Actually, I was wondering Sakura-chan," Kakashi started and instantly she was wary of the next words that came out of his mouth, "If you would like to show Kisuke-sama the village."

I'm going to kill him, Sakura's jaw clenched.

She smiled nonetheless and asked, "A tour?"

"If you are not busy, Sakura-san," Kisuke inclined his head politely before smiling, "I'd hate to inconvenience you."

"I have some errands to run actually," Sakura replied diplomatically, "I can take you to the village center and then to your accommodations," she paused before racking her for some more information, "I know from my last mission you have a keen interest in mochi with salt."

The Daimyo approved, "You remembered," he turned his head and gave a curt nod, "I will see you tonight then, Hokage-sama."

And Kakashi smiled all Kakashi-like, which was both unpredictable and alarming all at once.

"Shall we, Mikan-sama?"

"Kisuke please, Sakura-san," Kisuke offered her the crook of his arm and she felt something like a muscle twitch at the back of her neck.

Sakura smiled demurely while Minato leaned against the wall with a quirk of the eyebrow.

Idiot, and there was no way to tell if she directed that insult at herself, at the Daimyo, at Kakashi, at Minato, or at her life in general. She took the arm of the Fire Daimyo and led him out of the Hokage's Tower.

Diplomacy was like pulling teeth. Sakura had enough experience dealing with political leaders, but that doesn't mean she had to like it. She had the privilege of meeting the Fire Daimyo three years ago, she was summoned to the Great Hall to heal his daughter who had been suffering from chronic mercury poisoning. One part of the picture, when it comes to healing people – a civilian in this case – was the healing itself, but the main issue lay in finding the source of the problem.

If you can find the source, you can stop the symptoms from breaching, Sakura thought.

And if you can't find it? Minato prodded.

She frowned.

"Is something the matter, Sakura-san?" The Daimyo asked when he noticed her change in mood.

"Nothing," she shook her head, "Just wondering how long Kakashi—er, Hokage-sama," she corrected, "Will take at the meeting."

"With the security procedures," he filled in.

"Yes," Sakura answered automatically and then blinked, "How did you know—"

"I am fairly versed in these types of matters," Kisuke-sama's eyes twinkled and he finished dryly, "Parties."

She chuckled, "I'd say so."

After a few moments of enjoying the silence, Sakura directed him towards a stall that the Inuzuka clan held. She waved at Hana from inside the stall, "Hana-san, how are you doing?"

"Sakura-san," she tilted her head in greeting, a smile breaking into her face and she replied impishly, "We opened about an hour ago. The foreigners have yet to breach this side of the village. Though," she grinned, "The ronin have made their interest known."

Minato coughed politely in the back of her head, she felt the vibrations in her fingers.

Sakura smiled thinly and presented, "Hana-san, I'd like to introduce you to the Fire Daimyo."

Hana's eyes widened before she gave a quick bow and greeted, "Mikan-sama, I didn't realize you would be attending the festival."

Kisuke's lips twisted wryly, "Uchiha-san had extended the invitation, and I so graciously accepted."

Sakura could hear the irritation brewing in the back of his throat, so she tossed in a segue way, "Mikan-sama has a particular interest in mochi with soy sauce. I know the Inuzuka clan has probably the best brews—"

"Yes," Hana nodded furiously before grabbing a box from the back of her stall, tossed in some extra nori and a small tub of soy sauce, "The Inuzuka clan has had distilleries for years, we ferment mostly soy sauce and rice wine."

Sakura grabbed a pair of chopsticks next to the window and handed it to the Daimyo. There was an irrational surge of jealousy as she watched the Daimyo wrap the rice cake in a strip of nori and dip it into the soy sauce. It was the scene itself that reminded Sakura of those old fairytales that her mother used to tell her when she had a nightmare and couldn't go back to sleep.

Artistic and untouchable.

"Would you like a rice-cake, Sakura-san?" Mikan-sama inquired holding a piece of rice-cake in between his chopsticks.

Sakura almost blanched, "Ah, no thank you, Mikan-sama. I ate just before I visited."

"Kisuke, Sakura-san," The Daimyo chided gently.

Hana's eyebrows raised.

"Force of habit," she smiled politely.

The last time I saw Mikan-sama, he was a child, Minato decided to speak. He was always outspoken and serious.

Is there a point to this conversation? Sakura almost raised a brow.

Minato rolled his eyes and Sakura's palm itched.

He trusts you, he said.

I did save his daughter, Sakura pointed out, It's not a big deal.

Minato sighed, Sakura you just bought yourself an ally.

I didn't buy anything, she argued, If anything, I bought loyalty.

"Would you like another box, Mi—Kisuke-sama?" Sakura asked after a few moments.

"Yes," Mikan-sama nodded, "My daughter also, has an interest in these."

Sakura nodded.

Like pulling teeth, Minato stated amusedly.

—

"Well, that was interesting," Sakura sighed, she took a break underneath the big oak tree in training ground seven. She sipped her iced tea and rolled her shoulders.

Minato took a seat next to her, his Hokage robe – since when did have his Hokage robe? – blossomed around his hips and legs, and he asked, "Was it really?"

"I've only met the Daimyo on two missions," she admitted, "Once when his daughter was sick and the other was a diplomatic mission. I had to represent the civilian district."

"As a shinobi?"

"The Haruno clan aren't a shinobi clan," Sakura explained, "Only my parents and a few, very distant relatives have joined the ranks. I just happen to be placed on a team…with very powerful people."

"You do realize, you, are a powerful shinobi," Minato pointed out.

She shrugged, "Semantics."

He scowled, "Sakura."

"Yes, yes don't do the whole woe-is-me and self-pitying act," Sakura waved it off and sipped her tea, "Can't help it, the bitter teen in me likes to make her appearance every once in a while."

Minato sighed exasperatedly, "We're going to have to work on that."

"My self-esteem issues or my lack of skills?" Sakura's lips quirked with amusement.

He shot her a dirty look.

"It's not like I'm hiding it," she retorted, flicking a few wayward strands from her face, she continued, "It's basic knowledge that I'm a medic. Compared to my idiotic teammates, I'm just that girl who got lucky enough to make it past the Sannin mark."

"You call that luck?" Minato inquired with minute disbelief, "Sakura," he emphasized with a wave of his hand, "Self-made shinobi."

"Like you?"

"Yes," he stated bluntly, "I wasn't born into a ninja clan and I don't have any type of kekkai genkai, yet, somehow I still managed to become the Yondaime – as short as my reign was – and it had nothing to do with luck."

Sakura stared at him with surprise.

"I worked hard, I studied even harder and I had a knack for coming up with complicated jutsu. I spent hours in the library learning the Second's jutsu, rewriting ninjutsu equations and learning to pick apart Whirlpool documents just so I had a better idea for fūinjutsu. I had to remain determined, acquire patience, perception and sometimes, I had to seek out advice," Minato said passionately, "Luck doesn't equate to talent, nor does birth."

She had to say something, it felt like mortification mixed with something uncomfortable, "Minato—"

"It upsets me when you say things like that, Sakura," he pressed his lips together and continued, "I realize part of the blame falls on me. I should've taught Kakashi better, because he shouldn't have neglected you like that."

Sakura couldn't come up with a quip that would somehow soften his polite scolding. Yes, Minato was right. Yes, luck doesn't equate to skill, but at the same time it was hard to stop thinking that she was second best. She spent years—years trying to catch up with her teammates, trying to find some equal ground, but it always seemed like it wasn't enough.

"Plus," Minato added in when she didn't speak, "When you become the Pink Flash, well, you'll have a flee on sight mark in the Bingo Book."

She sputtered, "Pink Flash?" she blinked green eyes and shook her head, "I've had the flee on sight mark since I was fifteen."

He blinked, "What?"

"When I was fifteen I killed Sasori of the Red Sand," Sakura told him and furrowed her brows, "You know the Akatsuki? I thought Naruto told you or—it was explained to you during the war."

"You were fifteen?"

She nodded.

Minato laughed, "Sakura, I didn't enter the books until I was eighteen. I certainly didn't receive the flee on sight warning until I was twenty, and by then I was already Hokage."

"Oh," Sakura chuckled hesitantly.

Awkward.

—

"I hate coming here," Sakura sighed, pushing past the kunai-proof tower, she headed into the Jounin HQ and walked past the lobby.

Why? Minato wondered, It's where all the Jounin are—weren't most of them in your graduating class?

Yep, Sakura confirmed, I just hate coming here because everyone is a little too—

"Sakura-san!" Rock Lee appeared in front of her, teeth shinier than the metal flint Sai kept in his shinobi packs, "You look mighty youthful today!"

—much.

Sakura greeted him tiredly, "Hi Lee. I thought you would be in the village."

"I was just about to leave!" He grinned, "Gai-sensei has been giving me extra training! We're almost up to five thousand push-ups in under five hours."

"Lee that is not healthy," Sakura scolded him, "You will end up hurting your liver and ripping your muscles. Your kidneys can only handle so much."

"Not to worry, dear flower!" Lee nodded, "I shall take breaks in between and drink…lots of water?"

Sakura glared at him.

"And rest every other day?"

She sighed, "Better."

Youthful, The word left Minato's mouth like sand, He carries a torch for you?

It was a statement, not a question.

Since we were twelve.

Minato's laugh tickled the back of her eyes.

"What are you doing here, Sakura-san?" Lee asked curiously, "I thought you would be at the hospital."

She raised a brow at his sudden question.

He laughed nervously at the tick in her brow, "I-I just meant, you rarely come to HQ! It is an honor and a blessing for you to grace—"

"It's fine Lee," Sakura waved off his apology, "I'm just looking for my teammates."

"Sasuke-san and Sai-san are on the third floor," Lee said suddenly, "Would you like me to escort you?"

"No, it's fine," Sakura paused, "Wait, Sai and Sasuke are there together?" she stared at him with disbelief, "Alone?"

"Is that a bad thing?" Lee questioned hesitantly.

No, but it could end in Sasuke Kirin-ing the hell out of Sai, Sakura thought exasperatedly, she yanked the wayward strands of hair resting at the back of her neck in contemplation.

They got along that bad? Minato frowned.

Sai was Sasuke's replacement, she explained and said a quick goodbye to Lee, Sai came from Root so his human association skills are not the best, they're better now, but there's always that animosity between those two.

Sakura used shunshin to reach the third floor in record timing.

Make sure to put a seal on the building before you leave, Minato advised.

I've barely gotten down the basics of Hiraishin and you want to me to put a mark on the building?

Sakura opened the door to the recovery room. Sai sat next to the window, painting – she tried to peek from her peripheral vision – something. Sasuke sat on the sofa, sharpening a kunai with a twitch in his brow.

"Hey," she greeted casually.

Casual? Minato snickered.

Shut up, she hissed.

"Sakura," Sasuke looked up briefly before looking back at his kunai.

"Ugly," Sai greeted, "What are you doing here?"

"I came to give you, your duties," she answered slowly. Considering the time constraint she was under, she decided it was better to go the cleaner route than to go around the bend, "Sai, how do you feel about drawing nin and civilians for the festival? They'll pay you, of course."

"Pay me to draw?"

"Yes," she nodded, "I told the council that you're art is quite beautiful, they're willing to give you a booth near the Hokage Tower so you can draw now and tonight," then she smirked, "Ino will be waiting."

His eyes widened.

"That's right," Sakura sniffed, "Now up to it. She's waiting in Shikamaru's office."

Sneaky Sakura, Minato chuckled.

Once Sai was out of the fray, Sakura turned to look at Sasuke and she said, "You're on security rotation."

He raised his brows, "With who?"

"Kiba," she answered, "Lee will be joining you after midnight."

"The council doesn't want me in the village?" Sasuke smirked.

"No one wants you in the village," Sakura stated bluntly, "They don't trust you. Which is why I'm keeping you away from the masses."

"You mean you don't trust me," he pressed, dark brows furrowed but he waited nonetheless.

Minato stood behind her, a silent pillar of strength, but it was a reminder. A reminder that she wasn't alone and if she were honest, she wasn't sure if it was a comfort or a punishment.

She straightened her shoulders and leveled with him, "Yes."

Chakra saturated the air, heavy in her breath and form. Sakura didn't move. She pinned him with green eyes, defiance tightening in her jaw and lips, "I don't trust you. The village doesn't trust you. The civilians don't trust you. You would be a walking hazard if I let you into the festival unsupervised, where hundreds of foreign nin, civilians, political leaders and ambassadors are loitering around. If they don't know you by name, they know you by sight."

"I wondered when you would come clean with me," Sasuke said with feigned nonchalance.

"Clean? Sasuke, I'm telling you the truth because I have no advantage in keeping it to myself," Sakura told him, "Moreover, after your rotations, you will be shadowing Kakashi-sensei when he goes into the summit."

"We're having a summit?"

"Essential shinobi and high-ranking political leaders are invited," she answered, "Tomorrow."

"Hn. So I have to attend?"

"I said you're shadowing," she emphasized, "You're not allowed in."

Sasuke frowned, "How am I supposed to shadow if I'm not allowed in the room?"

"Figure it out," Sakura shrugged and made way to the door.

"Are you allowed in the room?" Sasuke's haughty voice forced her to turn her head.

Minato's thumb and index finger squeezed the pressure points at the back of her necks, tension falling off her shoulders like running water.

Sakura quirked a brow, emerald orbs glinted like silver and cobalt, and she used her thumb to indicate her person, "Essential shinobi, Sasuke."

Minato's exhale washed the back of her neck in warm, steady waves.

footnote1: Surprise, it is I, Sonia, who cannot tear myself from this fandom no matter how hard I try.

footnote2: There are things I want to say, but cannot remember now that I've come to the end of this chapter.

footnote3: Happy Birthday Sakura.

footnote4: Also, thank you so much to everyone who reviewed. Just know that I read all these notes, and tiny messages when I'm feeling down & uninspired.

As always, please drop a review on your way out.