346A/N: Hello everyone! I didn't realize how much your reviews could lift my spirits (especially Stickybun24! Your reviews had me smiling so wide)! Thank you, endlessly, for your patience while I wrote this chapter. My mental health is ebbing and flowing, but the amount of support and love that you all gave me these last few weeks has been so refreshing. I'd argue that it gave me more motivation to write after I started feeling better. Thank you, thank you, thank you!
As a heads up, chapters will likely be coming every 3-4 weeks from this point on. Being a grad student is a tough balancing act, what with work, practicum, academics, and self-care. However, writing is a great source of self-care for me, so expect the fic to continue as regularly as possible. I also want to be able to bring the images in my head to life for all of you to see/read.
I hope you all are taking care of yourselves, too, during this chaotic time. Reach out when you can, give yourselves love, and know you're worthy of it. Without further ado, enjoy the chapter!
Chapter 19
"Hellooo!"
Sakura startled from her desk as her office door swung open, the gust of wind from the force blowing her hair from her shoulders. She blinked at Ino, dressed casually in a royal violet tank top and black capris, as her friend waved a little plastic container of umeboshi onigiri like it was the most tantalizing object to have existed. In her other hand, she held two cans of melon soda, the condensation making it shimmer off its bright colors.
"Ino," Sakura reprimanded, deflating with relief that it wasn't some wild attack. She pushed her mental health documentation aside. "What in the world—"
"We came for lunch and gossip," her friend interrupted her dismissively.
"We?"
Behind her, Hinata peeked from around the door frame and waved. She was dressed casually, as well, in a pastel yellow shirt and a navy-blue skirt that grazed just below her knees. They were the epitome of summer while Sakura, in her red blouse, white coat, and blue slacks, was likely the epitome of work.
"Hi, Sakura-chan," Hinata beamed, lifting a little white bento box to confirm Ino's words. Then, delicate surprise crossed her features. "Oh, you have food already."
The medic glanced at the container by her desk that held shogayaki with rice and another of her favorite anmitsu with two cups of syrup, just as she likes it. A blush bloomed across Sakura's cheeks. "Hi and…uh, yeah," she nodded sheepishly. How in the world was she supposed to explain this without revealing too much? "I…um…"
"It was Sasuke-kun, wasn't it?" Hinata asked with a gentle smile.
The medic opened her mouth in hopes that an excuse of some kind would spill out, or maybe words that would undoubtably explain how in the world she managed to buy herself a complete lunch and dessert from two different restaurants across the village, both of which were still hot from the grill and cool from the counter, all within a 30-minute break period that she usually didn't take. Instead of formulating her much needed explanation, she merely blinked and opened and closed her mouth in vain, a flustered pink pufferfish in the making.
When Sakura didn't—or more couldn't—deny it, Ino's eyes shifted between the Hyuuga princess and the medic once, twice. She then gaped at the rosette as she let out an audible gasp. "Sasuke-kun?" she echoed in disbelief. "He brought you lunch?"
Sakura wasn't sure how to interpret her friend's tone, but her gut instinct was to grow even more sheepish under her Ino's lightning blue gaze. Was there any use in hiding it? "Actually," she began, pulling her shogayaki and anmitsu closer to her as if to defend them from her friend's reaction, "he's been bringing me lunch. Since Monday."
Ino let out an exasperated shriek and threw one of the melon sodas in Sakura's direction, and the medic caught it with ease before it could crack the window behind her. She sighed blearily, figuring that this reaction was one that she should have seen coming. She set it on the desk to pull the tab, allowing the can to fizz to life as Ino plopped into one of the chairs in front of her, Hinata following suit. The latter gave Sakura a tired smile, one that Sakura recognized as an apology, but they both knew how Ino could get. She exchanged a look with Hinata that read, Don't worry about it.
"I cannot believe you didn't tell me sooner," Ino huffed, aggressively opening the container she brought and pointing one of the little rice balls in Sakura's direction as though it was her pointer finger. "It's already Thursday! I called you twice this week and you didn't bother to mention that little detail? If I'd known, I would have called off my work way sooner to eat and hear the hot gossip. Can you believe this, Hinata?"
The Hyuuga princess shrugged as she unwrapped her own bento of gyudon. "I suppose it makes sense," she admitted as she picked up her chopsticks. "Naruto-kun told me that you both went on a date this past weekend. Is that right?"
"Ooh, yes they did!" Ino butt in. "They did go on a date, and that's the gossip we are here to soak up, Forehead. Unless there's something else you want to tell us that you didn't bother to run by with me on the phone?"
The medic lifted the lid of her lunch and felt a little worm of discomfort growing in her chest. She'd agreed with Sasuke that she wouldn't tell anyone, but now it seemed nearly impossible to keep more details away from her close friends. She figured it would soon grow more obvious, too, with the little gestures he was already doing for her. After she'd admitted to Sasuke as he walked her to work earlier that week that it was a frequent occurrence that she worked through her lunch times, he silently insisted that she not resort to that…by bringing her lunch himself. To remain as inconspicuous as he could, and to avoid large crowds, he'd opted to use her window to deliver them. They'd spare a few minutes to engage in brief conversation before he'd bound away, each time muttering something about training with or tutoring Naruto. And each time, she would catch the faintest coloring of pink on the tips of his ears just before he'd leave.
Despite it happening only a few times so far, Ino and her surprise lunch visits would have caught on to the unusual pattern eventually. Maybe she should take more time to pack her own lunch during the week…
Sakura was tossing the last few exchanges in her head before turning to the Hyuuga. "Did you say that Naruto told you Sasuke-kun and I went on a date?" she questioned mischievously, hoping to redirect the attention away from herself.
The dark-haired girl's face seemed to redden even further, reminding Sakura of scarlet crayons she'd seen in craft stores. "Y-yes, he did. But we just happened to cross paths earlier this week when he mentioned it. He was on his way somewhere." Sakura frowned at what the statement implied, and part of her had half a mind to storm to her reckless teammate and shake some sense into him. "But please, don't derail for my sake," Hinata assured her, tossing the ball back into Sakura's court. "I'd like to know how your date went."
Darn, Sakura sighed, hoping the spotlight wouldn't land on her again so quickly. She doubted her little effort to derail wouldn't last long anyway judging by the way Ino seemed to visibly vibrate with excitement in her seat.
"Well, he picked me up from my apartment," she began slowly, picking at her lunch with her chopsticks. "Then we went out to eat at a restaurant and talked for a few hours. After that, we talked some more, and then he took me home." She looked up as she plopped a piece of her shogayaki in her mouth to find Ino looking at her expectantly, her eyebrows raised with anticipation. Even Hinata mirrored the expression, although at a lesser degree.
"And then?" Ino prodded.
Sakura knew what her friend was asking to hear. It wasn't about the topics of conversation, not about sharing dessert, not even about any emotional intimacy that may have occurred on the date. The medic sighed and brought her melon soda to her lips, feeling the cool metal brush against her tender skin as she remembered the end of the night. A furious blush stained her cheeks as she admitted, "And…we kissed."
Ino squealed with delight, throwing her plastic container, onigiri and all, atop Sakura's desk to grab and shake Hinata's shoulders in excitement. The Hyuuga placed her bento on her lap to clap her hands excitedly. It was as though a volcano of words erupted in her office as Ino rampaged animatedly about how she knew it would happen, how she told her they were moving faster than they thought, how she knew the emotionally constipated Uchiha had a soft spot for Sakura. Hinata joined in on the banter, grinning widely as she agreed that it seemed as though Sakura was smiling more these days, how even Naruto mentioned Sasuke acted a little more relaxed these days.
As Ino explained what she knew of the pair's budding relationship to Hinata, Sakura took a moment to continue eating her food. Hearing her friends' delight over the development moved her, and Sakura couldn't help but break out into her own smile before taking a sip from her soda and opening her anmitsu and drizzling the syrup on top of its contents. It felt…normal. This felt normal to be able to talk about Sasuke without the tensions from a year ago, to just be a group of girlfriends fawning over relationship developments. It felt as though the world was settling just a little bit into place for her, if only for a little while.
"So, details," Ino said, clapping her hands together excitedly. "How long? Was there tongue? How was it compared to your first one? Rate it on a scale of one to ten without using decimals."
"They had a first kiss already?" Hinata gasped.
"Ino!" Sakura groaned, mortified. She looked to Hinata for help, but surprisingly found the dark-haired girl to look towards her with her own level of curiosity. "Oh, my fucking…okay, fine," she conceded. "Probably a minute, no tongue. I think I liked this one better and…I guess a nine?"
"What would make it a ten?" the blond questioned seriously.
"I don't know…if there was tongue? Good gods, Ino, these details are hardly a lunch topic." Sakura couldn't help herself from thinking back to their kiss, however, marveling in her own mind at how skilled the Uchiha was on his own. No bumping teeth, no accidental biting. Had he kissed someone in the past? Did he have experience? She doubted he spent time discussing the topic with his comrades like she did with Ino, where the girls would spend hours debating mystery techniques from magazines and practicing on the backs of their own hands when they were younger.
Ino released a dreamy sigh and sunk into the chair, taking a large bite of her onigiri. "Wow, it must be nice to have someone who's naturally gifted. One time I had a make out session and the guy chomped on my lip like I was a piece of fruit."
Hinata adjusted her shirt from Ino's rough excitement and readjusted her position to continue eating, a blush forming on her cheek from Ino's comment. Then, the Hyuuga asked, "Does this mean that you're romantically together, now, Sakura-chan?"
"No labels," Sakura assured quickly, her face growing warm. "We're just experimenting with dating." Ino audibly gasped again, and the medic nearly chucked her melon soda in her face. "We are not experimenting like that, you pervert!"
Hinata froze just as she was about to pop a piece of her gyudon into her mouth when she realized what the others were implying, and her face reddened. Even Hinata couldn't help herself from giving an—albeit, gentle—scold. "Ino-chan."
Ino sighed before popping the rest of the onigiri into her mouth. "Look, I'm just making sure my best friend doesn't keep me too far out of the loop. I have every reason to be worried about being left behind, especially since he's been bringing you lunch behind my back. Who knows what else they've been doing? Is he staying the night like he used to?"
"He's slept at your apartment, Sakura-chan?" Hinata asked in surprise.
"Oh, yeah, a few times. And she's slept over at his apartment, too."
It was Sakura's turn to sigh. "Yes, we have slept over at each other's places before, but nothing ever happened. It was always platonic, I swear. And the last time I slept over at his place, Naruto was there, too." Then to Ino, she snapped, "Sasuke-kun and I aren't like that, Pig. He walks me back home from work and I invite him to stay for dinner, but it feels a little different, now, almost like…" Sakura struggled to find the words to describe it. "Almost like it's too…too intimate if he agreed to stay."
"Isn't intimacy what you want?" Ino asked. "If we were a few years younger, I could imagine you'd be all over him. Holding hands, kissing his cheek, barreling at him with hugs, you know?"
The medic snorted as she took another bite from her anmitsu. Ino was right: had they been a few years younger, and perhaps had Sasuke never left the village, she would be throwing every ounce of affection his way. Just as she realized the night of their date that she would have screamed it to the Five Nations that they were—unofficially—together when she was younger, she also realized that that wasn't who she was anymore. That wasn't who Sasuke was. And now, that wasn't who they were.
Not only did the dynamics of their budding relationship paint their flirtatious dance in subtle colors, but the politics of advertising it may draw unwanted attention. And honestly, Sasuke had seemed more the type to keep things to himself for as long as she'd known him, even as children. The only real difference since the date is that Sakura has been more liberal with touching him, but nowhere she hasn't before: grazing her fingers against his wrist as she'd whisper a thanks, his upper arm as she'd say goodbye, the hem of his shirt to gather his attention. She supposed she's been a little more flirtatious, and he always reciprocated with his own level of playfulness, reminiscent of the dinner they had together in her apartment when he was first released as well as the little moments they shared alone while walking. It was always when it was just the two of them, when no other eyes could peer into their lives.
She's been patient, steady, a pace that she needs for herself, too, trekking these new paths.
"Sasuke-kun and I agreed to keep it as low to the ground as we can," Sakura admitted. "I want to keep him to myself, for now."
"We won't tell anyone," Hinata promised. "Right, Ino-chan?"
"Alright, alright, I get it." Ino raised her hands as though conceding defeat. "But let's be real: you two have basically been dating since the moment he's been released. That's a good few months, dear Forehead."
"And?" Sakura asked.
"And the birds and the bees are part of the natural order. You, a medic, must know that much. It might not be happening now," Ino continued, finishing off the last onigiri, "but we all know you two have sexual tension of two dogs in heat." Sakura gaped as the blond pointed to her baby blue irises. "Two words: eye sex."
Oh, higher powers, HELP.
Hinata's face turned beet red, her silvery eyes hyper-focused on her food. Ino looked at Sakura, eyebrows raised in genuine curiosity. A furious blush bloomed across Sakura's cheeks, a heat that she could have sworn made the entire room increase a few degrees. She closed her anmitsu, appetite gone, and with a deathly calm voice said, "I think it's time for me to get back to work."
The June's late afternoon heat reached its first peak despite it being early in the month. The sun was beginning to linger in the sky later into the evening, leaving its heat radiating on the village like a warm haze. Sasuke had stripped himself free of his shirt earlier in their training session, its dark color feeling more constricting in the early summer temperature. He laid out on the grass, feeling the way the velvety blades cushioned his back as he caught his breath. A terribly familiar burn began to radiate in Sasuke's left shoulder. He could almost feel the clots of knotted chakra paths again, and while it was nowhere near the bursting, fiery pain that it had been when he was first released, he didn't want to relive anything near it.
Shit, he thought. Not again.
Naruto plopped next to him, plucking the front of his shirt and letting the fabric fan his sweaty torso. The two had sparred until angry bruises began forming on their arms and shoulders, a particularly angry patch of purple forming on Naruto's right side. It was a dirty move on Sasuke's part, aiming for a place that lacked a method of defense, but one that Naruto happily returned on the Uchiha's left side.
"This counted as 'light sparring,' right?" the blond panted.
"Neither of us lost another limb, so yes."
"I'm going to look like a dalmatian in the morning," Naruto groaned, holding onto his side. "Sakura-chan's going to flip out if she sees us like this."
Sasuke didn't entertain the thought with a reply, as his initial reaction was that he'd be pleased to have her healing touch. At this point, he needed it again. He doubted she would be as cross with him as she would be with the loud blond, anyhow. He kept his mouth shut, gritting his teeth as he sat up, for his muscles groaned in protest at the movement. He gingerly worked to pull his shirt back over his head.
"Speaking of Sakura-chan," Naruto reached behind him and tossed a small water bottle in Sasuke's direction that he caught with ease, "you have yet to tell me how your date went." Sasuke didn't have to look over to know that a mischievous smile splayed across his whiskered face.
"It was fine," he responded curtly, twisting the water bottle's cap and chugging its contents. He sighed heavily before continuing. "We had dinner. We talked. We went home."
The blond rolled his eyes as he drank half his water bottle. "It's like pulling teeth with you, y'know that?"
"There's nothing else to say about it."
He could feel Naruto's eyes scanning his face before an exaggerated gasp escaped the blond. "You made out again, didn't you?" he accused, and Sasuke remained quiet as he rolled his own eyes and made to stand. When the Uchiha didn't confirm nor deny, Naruto gasped once more. "Oh my god, you did! You did make out with her again!" He howled a laugh and poured the rest of his water bottle over his sunshine hair before following his friend who began to stride back towards the village core.
Sasuke still didn't respond to the blond, not wanting to get involved in a conversation about his private matters, even if it was a conversation with his brother-equivalent. "I need to go to Hiroto's before sundown," he snapped, wanting to change the subject.
A firm hand rested on the Uchiha's left shoulder, causing him to flinch in pain. The muscles there were more tender than he thought. Sasuke managed to keep his composure, however, and with good timing, as the blond grew serious when he turned to look in his direction. "Teme," Naruto began, his voice losing its playful tone. "You told me you're not leading her on. You were telling the truth, right?"
A frown etched into Sasuke's own face. "I am not leading her on," he replied firmly. They stared each other down for a moment, Sasuke allowing Naruto to search his expression for any hint of deception. When he was seemingly satisfied, Naruto motioned on the path for them to continue walking.
"Then what's the big deal, Teme? You know friends talk about this kind of stuff with each other, right? Do you need to take a formal class in friendship?" he snorted.
"It's something she and I agreed not to discuss. End of story." He wiped at his brow free of sweat with the back of his arm.
"Oh, I get it."
Sasuke raised a questioning brow, confused. He didn't try to send a message beneath the message. He was being as straightforward as possible.
"Your skills were disappointing, huh?"
Little shit.
"My skills," he ground out, "are fine."
The two of them broke out of the tree-lined path and made their way onto the paved roads of the village. Civilians began filing into the streets as the typical work hours came to an end. Walking in Naruto's company while the sun was out was like that of Sakura's: many of them offered beaming smiles to the blond, who sheepishly nodded or waved in response, while unsure glances were shot Sasuke's way. However, their looks of surprise or disdain were more subdued than when he was with the medic. In fact, it was more as if Sasuke didn't exist next to Naruto, like the sunshine savior of Konoha was trekking the streets by himself. He tried not to dwell on that detail and what the difference could mean.
"So, then," Naruto continued, breaking Sasuke out of his train of thoughts, "what was making out with her like this time around?"
Sasuke clicked his tongue with irritation. "I never confirmed that we made out."
"You didn't deny it, either."
The Uchiha glanced around, hoping no one was listening their bold conversation. The idiot clearly had no sense of restraint or decorum when out in public. He held his tongue, opting for silence in hopes the blond would follow suit.
And, of course, he didn't.
"You can be honest if you did something like break her tooth with yours, you know."
"Shut. Up."
"What?" Naruto raised his hand defensively. "I heard that kind of stuff happens. Kiba told me himself that the first time he used tongue, he chomped down too hard on accident and bit the girl's lip. The tongue stuff is supposed to add a whole new dimension to the experience."
"We didn't use tongue," Sasuke whispered harshly.
"So, you did make out!"
Fucking hell.
The two turned the corner to enter the path leading to the Military Police station, and Sasuke was thankful there were less people strolling in the district. "How long are you going to linger on this topic?" he hissed.
"Until you tell me what's going on between the two of you," Naruto laughed, giving his best friend the most shit-eating grin he'd ever seen.
For every ounce that Sasuke was irritated, Naruto was equally as persistent. And usually, the latter would win in their competitions of push and pull for information. The Uchiha stared straight ahead as they walked to look as casual and unassuming to any passersby despite the obnoxious topic of discussion. Hopefully that would draw the least amount of attention if someone were to catch a whiff of their exchange. Sasuke made sure his volume was low as he explained, "Sakura and I agreed not to discuss what's happening between her and I with anyone."
"Attaboy," Naruto snorted, punching his friend's right arm. "Now tell me I'm an exception and drop some details."
Sasuke scowled and pinched the bridge of his nose in irritation. After a deep breath, Sasuke instinctively rested his hand on his left shoulder to massage the area as he spoke. "She and I have agreed to date on a regular basis. No labels." He turned his head slightly in Naruto's direction. "Don't say anything to anyone about it."
"About fucking time!"
"Lower your voice," Sasuke hissed, noting how a pair of patrolling shinobi looked their way, startled. "And remember not to say anything to anyone about it."
"Yeah, yeah, I won't say anything, I won't," Naruto nodded, scratching the back of his head, a gesture Sasuke recognized as the idiot suddenly remembering that he wasn't supposed to open his mouth about the news. "So how come no labels?"
Sasuke shrugged, not sure how to vocalize his thoughts on the matter. He was skilled in many areas in his life: combat, reconnaissance, critical thinking, even cooking. Excellent, he'd argue. But these were very shinobi-like activities. In terms of relationships, he felt almost embarrassed to admit that he was seriously lacking.
He knew that he wanted to spend more time with Sakura and get to know her more as a partner. He wasn't sure what other relationship term made sense, but he didn't just want friendship with the medic. She spurred his curiosity and found his thoughts trailed frequently to her well-being, her experiences, her whole person. From Sasuke's perspective, it was like the roles of their childhood had switched, though he was far less overt than she had been. From the outside looking in, it must have already seemed to others that the pair had been dating for a while, at least if they looked close enough at their interactions together.
But Sasuke, quite simply, held a very heavy weight on labels that he wasn't sure he could carry. He might not be able to fulfill expectations. More foundationally, he wasn't sure that Sakura even wanted the labels, judging by her suggestion to keep them low to the ground.
And morbidly, his future was unclear.
In response to Naruto's question, he shrugged. "It's complicated."
"I guess so." Naruto quieted, seemingly digesting the last few moments as though he'd heard Sasuke's internal monologue. Then, he brightened. "Well, let me be the first to give you my blessing."
Sasuke rolled his eyes. "I don't need your blessing."
"Then let me give her my blessing!"
"Don't tell her I told you."
Naruto gaped at him indignantly. "I already know! What difference would it make?"
The Uchiha shot him a withering glare.
"Oh, okay, I get it. You don't want to piss off your girlfriend so soon into the game."
"We aren't using labels."
The two began bickering about the nuanced differences of words in dating culture and labels, their volume no longer a matter of concern as they grew more heated with every argument and rebuttal. Sasuke felt the vein in his temple threatening to burst as Naruto raised his voice in exasperation that those nuances were "a fool's way of tricking himself" because "Kiba said so, dammit!"
As irritated as Sasuke was, there was another part of him that felt relieved to be able to reestablish their fiery friendship. He would never admit it aloud to the blond, of course; they were never ones to discuss their emotions aloud. Rather, he thought perhaps about sharing this with Sakura at some point.
When the duo turned the corner to get to the Military Police station, they were greeted by a crowd of at least eight men, mostly civilians, arguing heatedly with a pair of MPs in uniform at the front steps of the building. Sasuke's stomach clenched with anxiety, but he kept his exterior composed. In his periphery, he could see Naruto glance at the Uchiha, brows furrowed in concerned understanding.
Protestors.
As they approached, the group hushed to shoot hateful glares toward the Uchiha whose only defense was the honored hero of the village at his side. Naruto's face was absent of his signature smile. Instead, it was replaced with what could have been likened to Sasuke's usual stoic expression. It didn't suit him, not by any means, but the Uchiha appreciated Naruto's understanding of the gravity of the situation before them.
The MPs motioned for the two young shinobi to continue towards the building. It was then that the baleful grumbles began again.
"Hiroto's too soft on him."
"The man should resign; he's not doing his job."
"Protecting a traitor above the people he betrayed."
"Chief's just letting everything he does slide."
Naruto clapped a protective hand on Sasuke's shoulder, a gesture to the protestors that he was protected under his cerulean watch. The Uchiha could only imagine what the walk would have been like without his friend, how much louder their comments and sneers would be had he been forced to walk towards the building alone. His pride would be too stubborn to find another route into the building, though he knew it wouldn't stop the nagging voice in the back of his head that urged him to believe their words. Hiroto showed Sasuke mercy on multiple occasions, occasions that would have made most enact punishments had anyone else been in charge. He wanted to believe that it was because the man was just. In fact, there was even part of Sasuke that knew Hiroto was doing an excellent job in being rather objective while humane. However, he wondered again if this was something he deserved.
When the two entered the lobby, Naruto turned to him. "Want me to sit in the meeting with you?" he asked, his voice serious.
Sasuke shrugged as nonchalantly as he could, knowing that the blond would take it as an invitation to do so. The front desk officer nodded at the two, greeting Naruto with more buoyance, motioning them to go ahead into Hiroto's office. Before they entered, Naruto turned his way again.
"You don't need to believe those guys outside, y'know," he assured Sasuke.
"Mm."
His reassurance helped…if only a little. But a little was better than hearing nothing at all.
Sasuke entered the office as usual without preamble to see Hiroto puffing a half-smoked cigarette in his mouth. No doubt the man was aware of the ruckus outside his building and the venomous words that were spoken of his job performance. Despite it, though, he looked positively unperturbed.
"Ah, the village heroes," Hiroto greeted, nodding at the pair as they took their seats on the plastic chairs. "It's an honor to finally meet you in person, Naruto."
The blond returned to his usual beaming expression. "Great to meet you, too!" He lifted his hand and jerked his thumb in the direction of the front of the building. "You know those guys out there are being all loud, right?"
"Yes, I'm aware." The officer breathed out a steady stream of smoke. "As far as I'm concerned, I'm doing my job the way it is intended. They call me biased; I call them biased. We're all correct. True objectivity doesn't exist. But if you ask me," Hiroto chuckled once, "I'm more correct than they are. If they have a problem with it, they're more than welcome to discuss their concerns with Godaime and her successor." He turned to Sasuke. "We know this is because of your Uchiha blood. There's no use in skirting around that fact. So, let's be honest: if it were anyone else from any other clan, the sticks they carry wouldn't be as far up their asses."
Sasuke couldn't help but smirk at Hiroto's choice of words, and a swell of gratitude filled his chest. "Thank you."
"I like this guy," Naruto snorted, elbowing Sasuke's arm.
"I'm flattered," Hiroto grinned, taking a final puff from his cigarette before extinguishing it in his ash tray. "Luckily Yui didn't bring Sato around today to see the noise outside. And, I get to have a few smokes. Speaking of Yui," he leaned back in his chair, "she tells me you and Miss Sakura enjoyed dinner last week."
Of course, he starts with that, Sasuke sighed internally. "It went…well."
"Any other activities you'd like to report?"
Painless.
"Just the usual. Tutoring and sparring with this one," Sasuke nodded in Naruto's direction, causing the blond to look mildly offended.
"I have a name," he grumbled, which the Uchiha pointedly ignored.
"And Sakura?" Hiroto asked, scribbling notes.
Sasuke almost didn't want to admit it out loud, for the sake of saving himself from verbal teases and pokes of fun, but he decided to concede. "I bring her lunch. She doesn't eat regularly." At the mere thought of her, he instinctively massaged his left shoulder for a moment before letting his hand rest once more atop his leg. "I also walked her home from work and plan to do so after this meeting."
Hiroto hummed in response, scribbling a few words on a notepad. "That's all?"
"That's all."
"Quick and easy, as per usual," the officer sighed. Before Sasuke could stand to adjourn the meeting himself, Hiroto raised a hand to pause him. "We have another item to discuss, Sasuke. It's about Sakura." The young shinobi was about to open his mouth to protest, not wanting to divulge in any personal details of his relationship with the medic no matter how fatherly Hiroto intended to be, but the officer's playful gaze diminished into one more serious. "It has to do with the protestors outside this building."
Naruto and Sasuke exchanged uncertain glances between each other, and Sasuke felt himself tense as he settled back into his seat. He nodded for Hiroto to continue.
"As you know, those protestors are here because they are not very happy with the decisions I made in response to your altercation with Ken a few weeks ago. Word got around the village, likely from that guy himself, and tensions are rising in the village. I'll be blunt: I'm not the most popular right now because they don't believe you should have gotten off without a punishment."
"But Sasuke was provoked," Naruto argued. "And Ken is just as much to blame for what happened, and he got to go without any punishment, either!"
Hiroto nodded. "We know why this tension is."
Sasuke's fist clenched atop his thigh. "I'm Uchiha."
A pregnant silence befell them all then. The spiral of guilt began to swell in Sasuke's chest. His reputation is being impacted by me, he thought frustratedly. Hiroto, one of the few kind villagers who'd shown him humanity since his release, is now suffering due to Sasuke's mere existence. It's not fair.
"Tensions may also be escalating because of news that Koharu and Homura are reaching out to samurai from the Land of Iron as witnesses. Regardless, I want to be as transparent with you as possible, Sasuke," Hiroto said, folding his hands and bringing it just below his chin. "To be labeled a sympathizer can be complicated. This isn't something I mind personally; I have thick skin. And Naruto, I'm sure you know that your reputation around the village makes you nearly immune, and I'm also sure that your walk here has opened up some perspective to the gravity of the recent events."
"I…didn't think it was that bad," Naruto admitted before glancing at his friend. "But I guess…I can't fully know what Sasuke's experience is like. I can imagine it's like when we were kids. That kind of isolation, y'know? It didn't feel too bad when I walked with him, but—"
"You're like a shield," Sasuke muttered almost bitterly.
Hiroto nodded. "I'm not sure what the nature of your relationship with Sakura is," he continued, "and I won't require you to disclose it to me. I would suggest, however, that you be open about what's occurring to you with her."
Sasuke raised a questioning eyebrow. "Are you suggesting she doesn't have thick skin?"
"Let me finish." Hiroto leaned forward slightly in his seat. "I'm aware that Sakura's reputation also acts as a shield for you. Your friendship with your team, in general, does. All I'm saying is that this is my personal belief: to communicate concerns is to allow for informed decisions. The protests have been happening outside this building, so I'm not sure if word has made it to the medical district yet. Regardless, let her know what's happening so that she can choose how to best support you."
If she wants to continue supporting me, a voice in Sasuke's head thought grimly.
"And she will." Sasuke turned to Naruto, the confidence in the blond's voice surprising him. "She will," Naruto repeated firmly.
The Uchiha remained quiet as he pondered the situation. Was it right for him to pursue something beyond friendship with her? Would that put her at more risk of being labeled an Uchiha sympathizer? Would her reputation begin to crumble? Perhaps he should have left her alone. Perhaps he should have endured the awkward tension between them until the final verdict of his trial. Perhaps he should have—
"Teme, knock it off."
Sasuke blinked himself out of his trail of thoughts.
"You're doing that spirally thing again," Naruto snapped, twirling his pointer finger for added effect. "Knock it off. Sakura-chan isn't the kind of person to abandon someone precious to her. If she was, none of us would be friends right now. She'll defend you."
At what cost?
"Sakura is a smart girl," Hiroto added. "Let her know and she can make judgements of how she can support you. Don't make decisions for her."
Something about the way Hiroto said these last few words perked Sasuke's ears. Maybe it was even in the wording themselves. Was Hiroto giving him…fatherly advice? It was certainly different from the kind that Kakashi offered; it wasn't at all sarcastic. His mismatched eyes looked at the wide expanse of desk in front of the officer, the desk where his own father once sat in the room where his father once worked. The parallels made his chest ache with residual grief as well as the warmth of gratitude.
"I'll speak with her," Sasuke finally said.
With a single nod, Hiroto adjourned the meeting. Just as the two young shinobi turned the knob to exit the room, the officer spoke up once more.
"Oh, and Sasuke."
The Uchiha turned to look at him.
"It's June eighth."
Sakura stretched her arms toward the darkening sky and released a breath as she let her limbs drop limply by her sides. She and her medical team, Aiko, Eri, Kano, and Goro, were exiting the building, their long shift finally having come to an end. It was the first time she was able to leave work with them as opposed to hours after they'd clocked out since before they worked at Hana Village. She was surprised at how she'd eased back into work with her male counterpart without the awkwardness she feared. After hours of paperwork for the mental health clinic, she dove right back onto the floor with her team and functioned like a well-oiled machine.
"It's my last shift of the week," she beamed. "Good work today, everyone."
The other medics surrounding her rang out their own words of congratulations and good works before they laughed boisterously. Aiko spoke animatedly about going out for a quick drink at one of the popular bars before retiring for the night. As Sakura stripped off her white coat and ruffled her pink tresses with her free hand, Eri piped up, "Are you coming to get drinks with us, Sakura-senpai?"
The honorific always made Sakura blush, as she was far younger than the rest of them. She couldn't tell if this was a better alternative to simply calling her Haruno-san. "Not tonight," the pinkette raised an apologetic hand. "Tsunade-sama might have let me drink on the side, but I don't think the bars would be too happy about me doing it without being of age in public."
"Oh, that's right," Aiko said, draping a playful arm around her shoulders. "You're still the baby of the group."
They came to a pause in the front of the hospital gates chiming with laughter as Sakura rolled her eyes good-humoredly. Their faces were illuminated by the streetlights in a cool hue that masked the heat radiating from the early summer day.
"Laugh all you want, but I'm sure I'd win in a drinking contest any other day," she snorted.
"I don't doubt it," Goro agreed, and another round of chuckles went through the group.
Kano's laugh dwindled first before a mischievous smile crossed her face. "Sakura-senpai, are you sure you don't want to go out drinking because of a different reason?"
A different reason? Sakura thought, raising an eyebrow at the suggestion as she folded her white coat in her arms. Before any questioning word could escape her lips, she heard the familiar footsteps behind her that matched a gait she knew so very well. A blush formed on her cheeks before she even turned around to greet the Uchiha who emerged into view. He had a light sheen of sweat on his face, though she could swear that it only made his aristocratic features look even more alluring. He wore the same short-sleeved black shirt and sweatpants from his earlier lunch delivery, though the fabric had a few smears of dirt, likely from sparring with Naruto. The way he swayed, ever so slightly, when he walked gave way to his relaxed state.
The young medic tucked a lock of hair anxiously behind her ear before offering him a shy smile. It faltered, however, when she realized his hand was clasped over his left shoulder instead of stuffed casually into his pocket.
"Well, now Sakura's decline makes far more sense," Aiko teased, patting the girl's back before letting her arm slip from her shoulders. Then a little closer to her ear she whispered, "I approve."
Sakura's cheeks blazed with embarrassment. "Aiko!" she scolded, hugging her white coat to her chest as Eri and Kano burst into laughter. She noticed, however, a polite smile plastered upon Goro's face. Her gut instinct was to ask if he was feeling alright, but she already knew the circumstances of his expression. The awkwardness she so desperately wanted to avoid suddenly struck a chasm between them.
Sasuke stopped a courteous arm's length of distance beside Sakura and lowered his hand to his side. He acknowledged the group with a nod before turning to Sakura. From the outside, their exchange may have been nothing more than a second-long glance, but the medic knew to gesture towards the others to answer his curiosity. "Sasuke-kun, this is my medical team," she grinned. "Aiko, Eri, Kano," she forced her voice not to give away any discomfort as she motioned to her last teammate, "and Goro."
A minute flash of recognition, visible only to Sakura, traveled across Sasuke's face at the other man's name before it quickly dissipated into aloof detachment. He nodded politely at them not giving any one of her team any more eye contact than the other. Poised and careful as always, Sakura mused. As the women in her squad chorused their boisterous hellos, Goro exchanged his own polite nod, the smile on his face looking more strained.
"Nice to meet you all," the Uchiha greeted respectfully, then he turned to Sakura. "If you have plans with them, don't let me intrude. I can—"
"It's fine, Sasuke-kun," she assured him, turning slightly to motion their leave. She not only wanted to abandon the awkwardness, but she'd also been looking forward to seeing Sasuke since the moment he bounded away after dropping off her lunch. She looked to her medical team and lifted a parting hand. "I'll see you all next week! Rest easy and don't get too drunk."
"No promises," Eri snorted, leading the group towards the village hub. Sakura caught the lingering look of concern Goro gave the pair before he strolled off with the rest of them into the darkening streets as more lights flickered the paths to life. She tried not to dwell on his expression and was too anxious to ask Sasuke about his reaction to seeing an out-of-character Goro who lacked the usual friendliness.
As the group grew out of earshot, Sasuke spoke up. "I didn't take you away from them, did I?"
"You didn't, Sasuke-kun," she assured him again. "They want to go out drinking and I'm not really in the mood to break the law tonight." She turned and he followed suit, the two of them walking down the path towards her apartment. As they went, their hands brushed against each other every few steps, and she had to fight to restrain herself from letting her fingers graze longer than just a fraction of a second. She decided to engage in conversation to distract herself from the sensation. "How's Naruto?"
"The usual," he responded with a tinge of exasperation. "We bruised each other well enough." She half expected him to bring up his shoulder, but he refrained. He must need more time, she thought. He glanced at her, then, and she saw the effort he made in maintaining the conversation. "Did you like your lunch?"
She tried to will her cheeks from forming a furious blush to no avail, so she looked down at her white coat in her arms as she ran a hand anxiously over the sleeve to smooth it. "It was really delicious," she responded. "But I don't want you to go through all that trouble all the time; it can get expensive. Maybe…maybe we can…," she felt her cheeks burn even hotter as she peeked up at him, "maybe we can plan meals together and cook?"
The suggestion seemed to have caught him off guard, as she saw a slight look of hesitation cross his expression. Sasuke faced forward and nodded once in an affirmative, but Sakura knew that she'd made him feel a little flustered. There was a little voice in her head that knew she liked being able to do that. She liked making him a little flustered. She liked being able to see this side of him despite his best efforts to stay stoic. Sakura suppressed a giggle and instead let a smile spread across her face.
They continued their short walk to her apartment in comfortable quiet. It was their usual song: the sound of leisured footsteps and sneaky glances at the other to see if they're still present. It was something the medic wasn't quite used to as each look in his direction would send a flurry of butterflies in her belly, though part of her hoped that this sensation never faded when she gazed at him.
Butterflies.
Birds.
Bees.
And the birds and the bees are part of the natural order.
Sakura's breath caught in her throat at the memory of Ino's scheming words, adding a staccato to their usually legato walk. A furious heat bloomed across her cheeks as she grew more mortified.
Birds and bees, birds and bees, birds and bees.
Dogs. In. Heat.
INO.
Sasuke glanced at her with a single look that asked of her well-being and she answered with a tight smile. "Don't mind me," she assured him, silently cursing her burning cheeks. "Just thinking about work."
"Was it busy?"
"I was what?" she squeaked, only earning her a more confused expression from the Uchiha. "I…oh, well…a little. A little busy, but I'm not too tired today." She cleared her throat and hugged her white coat closer to her chest to muffle the sound of her pounding heart that he surely must have heard. Luckily, he didn't question her, and they continued toward the front of her apartment building in quiet.
He turned to her then, a contemplative look on his face, and Sakura knew to be patient as he formulated what looked to be a request forming on his lips. "My shoulder," he managed to say. "It's hurting again." He lifted his hand and placed it where she knew the pain was radiating the most. Courtesies, cautions, and criminal thoughts aside, Sasuke needed treatment first.
"Come up with me." She nodded in the direction of the stairs as she took a step for him to follow. Her medical instincts took the reins. "I'll take a look."
He followed her up the steps and into her apartment. When she flipped on the lights, she realized he hadn't been in the space alone with her since he'd spent the night months ago, but he slid his sandals off and placed them next to hers as though he'd done it this way hundreds of times before. Sasuke then sauntered over to his unofficial (yet claimed) spot at her kotatsu and waited for her to put her white coat away in her bedroom.
When she came back to kneel a professional distance away from him on his left, a pregnant silence hung over them. She broke it, first.
"Your shirt, Sasuke-kun."
He glanced at her, and his expression was unsure. Then, as though he was ripping a bandage, he closed his eyes, grasped the hem of his shirt, and pulled it gingerly over his head.
The sight made her audibly gasp. His torso looked almost as though he was splattered with violet paint as angry bruises marked his skin as though dark ink were spilling beneath its surface. There was a particularly striking bruise on his side just below his ribs, for Sakura could almost see the outline of a fist in the purpled hues of the damage. While each breath that rippled the muscles beneath his skin would usually make her face redden, she now could only react with mild irritation and disappointment.
Boys, she thought exasperatedly.
"I'm guessing Naruto looks about the same," she frowned, instinctively reaching out to gently press her fingertips against the tender skin. She let more surface area of her fingers cover the one right below his ribs, pressing into it a bit more with her left hand as her right rested on his back to hold him steady. Sakura paid little attention to the warmth of his skin, focusing instead on any physical reactions he had to her touch for any indication of pain. "Does it hurt when you breathe?"
"No," he responded, though his voice sounded slightly strangled.
She furrowed her brow at him skeptically. "Are you sure?" she asked, holding her palm gently against the bruise to feel when he breathed in. He nodded his head once as his lips pressed into a thin line and she wasn't sure what to make of it. He tensed at her touch, but it didn't seem to be out of pain. "I don't feel any cracks or swelling. It doesn't look like anything's broken," she murmured, almost to herself. She allowed a steady stream of chakra to begin radiating through the surface of her skin and into the afflicted area. "I'm going to work on this first and then tend to your shoulder."
Sasuke nodded stiffly before he began to relax at her touch, slouching slightly as the bruise began to form a greenish rim. "Sorry," he murmured. "Naruto might look worse than I do."
Sakura released a tired sigh. "Well, he'll have to set up an appointment with me if he wants to get treatment. I'm done giving him house calls."
She worked in quiet, settling into her element as she tended to another particularly rough bruise on his lower back. Then, after a few moments, she turned her attention to his left shoulder. She could nearly feel the chakra swirling in knots that formed near his shoulder blade all the way up to the rotator cuff. She hovered her fingertips expertly above his skin and went to work, smiling as an audible breath escaped the Uchiha's lips. It was almost like watching a cat unwind in front of her. She resisted the urge to touch him more than was necessary, but she relished in knowing that he was willing to be vulnerable in that moment.
"This looks pretty minor," she said softly. "You might experience some clotting again, but let me know whenever you do, and I'll straighten it out for you."
"Mm," he hummed, eyes closed.
After a brief pause, she asked, "Did you meet with Hiroto today?"
"With Naruto, yes." His eyes opened almost sleepily before they closed again, though his expression had a tinge of grim. "Something happened."
Sakura responded with silence to signal him to continue speaking, but she didn't deny the anxiety that pooled in her stomach at his words.
"There were protestors outside the building."
"Protestors?" she echoed as she adjusted her fingers. "Why?"
He opened his eyes once more and stared blankly at the wall ahead of him. Sasuke suddenly looked so…tired. "Hiroto told me that tensions have been rising in the village over his decision to let me go without punishment. They say he was too soft with me with what happened the other week with Ken."
The medic bristled at this. "What?" she scoffed. "That's ridiculous. There were multiple witnesses that saw the provocation he used against you, and Ken has a track record for being an ass. What Hiroto did was as much a courtesy for him as it was justified for you." She unraveled the last of the knot in his shoulder and settled her hands on her lap. "Did any of them try to hurt you?"
"No." He sighed as he ran his fingers through his dark locks wearily. "Hiroto's reputation is being marked as an Uchiha sympathizer."
Sakura shook her head in disbelief. "He's being fair in his judgments. Just because people don't agree with his logic doesn't make it any less logical. We all know that if it were anyone else, from any other clan, that a verdict like Hiroto's wouldn't have been scrutinized like this." He turned to look at her, his face intentionally composed, but she didn't have the patience to call him on it. She was still too heated about what he'd told her. "They're being ridiculous," she huffed.
"Being labeled as one carries serious repercussions on a reputation."
She studied him for a moment and heard the message beneath the message. His face read concern. It read uncertainty. Perhaps it even read anticipated loss. Not today, not any day, she thought stubbornly. Don't feel that, Sasuke-kun. She looked him dead in the eye using a determined gaze that would have made others flinch away. "I don't care about being labeled as an Uchiha sympathizer," she said, her voice steady and serious.
The corner of his mouth turned downward in a small frown. "If at any point—"
"If at any point someone comes after me for it, it wouldn't be your fault. It wouldn't be a reflection of you. They choose to be angry at someone they don't understand. If they act on it, it will reflect them." She instinctively leaned forward, hoping her message would be felt as much as it was heard. "They don't scare me, Sasuke-kun. And you're not alone in this anymore."
The two of them took a moment to process her words. Sakura hoped that she was emphatic enough and silently coaxed him to look at her in the eye. It took a moment for her to realize that he was scanning her entire face. It took another moment for her to realize how close she had brought them together as their breath mingled in the space between them, soft breezes of air that grazed her skin. She felt her eyes widen as his midnight and lavender irises met hers, and it was as though time let the moment linger longer than what nature usually allowed. She was held captive again, but she knew she would never protest it. She saw the familiar flicker of his eyes toward her lips before dragging back up to catch her gaze once more.
The tension between them grew taut, a rubber band stretched to its limits. Heat began to pool in her core, as she felt her lips part to let an awed breath escape. Tension. Heat. Tension. Heat.
…But we all know you two have sexual tension of two dogs in heat.
INO.
Sakura pulled away, her cheeks flaring a temperature nearly painful. Oh, gods. She turned away from him and clenched her hands into fists, unable to even thumb her palm in the comforting way she liked. Ino had to plant that thought in my head, she cursed silently, shutting her eyes in embarrassment. She heard Sasuke lean away as well and rake a hand through his hair. The loss of his warmth made her heart ache.
They sat in a few seconds of awkward silence, one that Sakura mentally filled with curse words that would send her ancestors rolling in their graves. "I'm…sorry, I…," her voice trailed off and she shifted her body to face the kotatsu. "Sorry."
"Patience," he shrugged, echoing what they'd agreed to do for each other.
She couldn't bear to vocalize her thoughts and resolved to keeping Ino's vulgar words to herself. She hummed in response, irritated with herself for letting the moment get away from her. She didn't need patience in that moment; she needed Ino to never have mentioned her crude observation of their shared gazes. Were they really…tension-filled? Were they that obvious? Their brief glances of communication were one thing, she supposed, as she never really gave thought to how their prolonged looks appeared to others.
The medic then let out a heavy sigh, trying to move past the roadblock. She figured there would be other chances despite her disappointment for now. "Um, Sasuke-kun, what are your plans tomorrow?"
He glanced at the microwave in her kitchen blinking the evening hour. "I have to get up early."
"Sparring?"
"No."
"Naruto doesn't usually wake up until eleven in the morning. Are you going to force him to study?"
Sasuke snorted at that. "No, not study." He seemed to think carefully about his next choice of words. "It's June ninth tomorrow." She stared blankly at him, not making any connections to the day's importance. He seemed to notice this and muttered sheepishly, "It's…Nii-san's birthday."
The last time he'd used his brother's honorific surprised her. This time, her heart swelled with sorrow and warmth at the way he spoke it, filled with every ounce of the brothers' complicated relationship and just as much love. It was one she reasoned she would never understand, and she wouldn't want to push him into explaining it. Itachi was an enigma to her.
His eyes trailed absently to his hand that let his fingers flex and curl. She wanted to reach out and hold them in hers, but she didn't wish to take him away from his trail of thoughts.
"Was he ever buried?" she asked, observing his expressions carefully.
Sasuke shook his head no and sighed. "I was thinking of visiting my family's gravesite for him. I haven't since we graduated as genin."
Sakura's eyebrows lifted in surprise that he hadn't gone to the cemetery when he still lived in the village, though she supposed it made sense. The memories were likely too painful, and he couldn't be blamed. She wondered what it was like for Sasuke to have to shoulder the burden of an entire clan at such a young age, forced to remember bittersweet pains of a family long gone. What did he do when other important dates passed? What would he feel when he passed the deserted Uchiha compound? An ache in her own heart formed for him, but she opted to sit in the silence alongside Sasuke, hoping that feeling with him would take some of his hurt away.
"Would you like to come with me?" he asked quietly.
She lifted her eyes to his and saw his careful expression. "Would…would it be okay if I did?"
He nodded once and she watched as his shoulders relaxed at the sound of her curiosity.
"Yes," she smiled softly.
They sat in a moment of quiet before Sasuke made his way to stand, and she followed suit. "It'll be early in the morning," he cautioned as though it would make her change her mind, but she merely nodded in response. "Six."
"Works with me," she replied.
They walked to the door, their bare feet padding lightly against her wooden floors. She fiddled with the hem of her shirt while he slipped on his sandals, and felt her heart sink a bit when she opened the door for him to leave. Warm night air creeped into her apartment, the awning lit only by the light by her door. It was easier to part when he'd bring her lunch or walk her home. She realized it would be harder to keep the sadness at bay when they'd separate after spending more than a few minutes together.
He stepped over the threshold and turned to her. "Tomorrow."
"Tomorrow," she echoed in confirmation, one hand resting lazily on the doorknob. His gaze felt intense and it caused her to look down at their feet only to grow saddened by the space between them.
Then, she was startled when she saw him step forward. Suddenly her vision was blocked by a flash of raven locks. She blinked in surprise as she realized Sasuke had dipped his head to match her height before gently pressing his lips to her own. She tilted her head instinctively and gasped a small breath as her head grew light and dizzy. It lasted a second, maybe two, but her soul ignited in her chest at the sheer feel of him, surprising her at how easily she could fall into his touch.
When he pulled away, her whole body was left with want. Sakura blinked up at him, eyes wide and lips still parted in surprise.
"Thanks," he smirked. "My shoulder doesn't hurt anymore."
He pivoted on his heel and made his way down the stairs, leaving her in a whirlwind of flurries.
