Archive of Our Own ^beta

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Sakura ran her fingertips over her brand new Jonin flak jacket, smiling faintly during her on-the-battlefield promotion. The Fourth War had officially ended, the aliens vanquished, the monster tree obliterated, and everyone was awake.

The list of casualties was still unfathomable, but her people had made it — Kakashi-sensei, Naruto, Sasuke-kun, Master Tsunade, Ino-Pig. All her pillars still stood. She knew how lucky she was considering so many others were gone.

She left the green jacket draped over her arm and stared back at the Godaime and the soon-to-be Rokudaime — not entirely sure who was in charge these days. Tsunade and Kakashi had summoned Sakura out of the medic tent where Naruto and Sasuke were still recovering from their maiming of one another. “What’s the real reason you two called to speak with me privately?” She was anxious to return to her boys. Her chakra still ran low from having punched a goddess and bringing her two idiots back from the brink of death in the valley. She wanted to sleep for a few more days. Sai was keeping a close watch over Ino, the two had become rather close these last few weeks.

“Weeeeeell, Sakura, Lightning is a bit of a problem,” Kakashi explained, giving her a tired eye smile. She could tell he just wanted to sleep as well. He laid his arm over her shoulders, something they’d suddenly both found normal after keeping each other on their feet after their last battle. They’d leaned on each other so heavily these past few days, supporting one another physically and emotionally. He’d regained his precious teammate and his old sensei only to lose them both all over again.

Honestly, Sakura felt ungrounded without Kakashi’s warm arm around her shoulders these days. He was solid when so much of their world had been shaken to the core. Aliens? Gods? Really? She squeezed her eyes tight for a moment, trying not to think too much about the feeling. “What kind of problem?” She asked warily. Master Tsunade and Kakashi exchanged glances, some sort of silent conversation happening between them.

“So, Suna and Mist have agreed to pardon Sasuke, but Cloud still wants his head. The Raikage is a little appeased since Sasuke lost an arm,” Kakashi explained. His eyes met Sakura’s briefly. They’d kept the truth behind how Naruto and Sasuke lost their arms a Team Seven secret. Everyone else assumed when the two chosen by the Sage of Six Paths formed the seal together merging the Sun and Moon that their arms were collateral damage.

“How did you get Mist to agree?” Sakura asked. She thought the Mizukage was especially sensitive given their previous leader had been a tool of the Akatsuki for years. She’d also caught Mei Terumi eyeing both Sasuke and Kakashi with a keen interest that seemed worrisome. The Mizukage wasn’t the kind of woman you wanted to notice you!

“Kakashi has been requested to be Konoha’s delegate to Mist for the next few months,” Tsunade explained with a vicious smile.

He grimaced, his arm tensing over her shoulders. “At least I’ll have Gai with me. The hot springs in Water Country should be very good for his recovery.” He sighed. “The Raikage was convinced by two of his subordinates — Darui and Cee — that the Apprentice of Tsunade Senju and Lady Chiyo of Suna could return with them to Cloud and help renovate their medical system.”

“I wasn’t Lady Chiyo’s apprentice. I mean, we worked together to defeat Sasori and we worked on creating the antidote to the poison that injured Kankuro,” Sakura protested, shrugging out from under Kakashi’s arm. She was still a little sad that Kankuro had been reunited with Edo Tensei Sasori. She’d have liked to have seen the man again— the first opponent that truly seemed to have respected her. Kankuro told her that Sasori had been different — more calm and also regretful for his choice of taking on a puppet body. Sakura wouldn’t admit it to anyone, but she’d been disappointed that the Scorpion of Suna hadn’t asked about her.

“Gaara is the one that claimed you were Lady Chiyo’s apprentice,” Tsunade interjected. “The Raikage couldn’t reject the proposal of you working with the shinobi of Cloud to renovate their healthcare system — someone trained in both Konoha and Suna medical practices. He’s asking for six months. And after that time, he’ll withdraw his request for Sasuke’s execution.”

Sakura knew the allied forces was still tentative. Hundreds of years of fighting amongst the five countries of the continent against a few months of cooperation. It was a tall order, yet, surely, the Raikage couldn’t think that Konoha would execute one of their own— especially someone who’d been manipulated and tortured like Sasuke-kun. “So I’m to be an indentured servant to buy Sasuke’s freedom?” Sakura asked.

She already saved him from a desert dimension and kept him from bleeding out. She’d endured a genjutsu from his Sharingan that left her unconscious for nearly twenty-four hours. If she hadn’t possessed her natural resistance to genjutsu, it could have been deadly. She wasn’t feeling particularly charitable towards him, even if he’d apologized and she’d caught a few glimpses of the old Sasuke that she and Naruto had both known and loved from their youth. Though, he needed help and who else would help him but his teammates? She couldn’t abandon him now. The mantra Kakashi had drilled into Team Seven ran through her mind. Abandoning a teammate would make her worse than scum!

Kakashi slouched. “We both are,” he murmured. “We’ll both be offering our services —within reason — to foreign hidden villages to secure his safety.”

She faintly remembered Cee. He was a competent medic. A Cloud Jonin that was part of the Raikage’s personal guard. He was only a few years older than her, yet younger than Shizune-senpai. He had pretty blond hair like Naruto and dark eyes like Kakashi-sensei and Sasuke-kun. They’d only worked together on one surgery — a severely injured Cloud shinobi, but his chakra control had been decent and his demeanor serious. He reminded her a bit of Neji.

She frowned, because she remembered that Neji was dead. Obito had killed him. Obito was dead. What was six months in another village when her friends would never see the light of day again. “Alright,” she agreed. “Anything in particular I should know about Cloud? I’d hate to piss off a bunch of Lightning users.”

“Most of the men are misogynists,” Tsunade warned. “Though Mabui is pretty good at putting them in their places. She’s the Raikage’s secretary.” She smiled faintly. “You’ll like her.”

“When would I leave?” Sakura asked.

“In the morning,” Tsunade answered. She waved her hand dismissively. “Go back to your bratty teammates. I’ll send for you before breakfast.”

Sakura returned to Naruto and Sasuke’s tent. Sai had been standing guard outside and when she arrived, he made his way back to Ino. She slipped inside. Sasuke was still asleep and Naruto read through a graphic novel Konohamaru brought him in his bed using his one hand to flip the pages slowly.

Naruto smiled brightly at her when she sat on the edge of his bed. “What did Granny Tsunade want?” Naruto asked. He gestured towards the flak jacket she wore. “Congratulations! You’re the first of us to make Jonin!”

Sakura grinned faintly. “Thanks.” She was pretty sure Shikamaru was being promoted too, but she wasn’t going to point that out. “Kakashi-sensei is being sent to Mist for a few months.” She took a deep breath and glanced back at Sasuke’s slumbering form, his chest rising and falling in his deep sleep, she’d stuck him in a medically induced coma earlier that day. “I’m being sent to Cloud for half a year.”

Naruto’s mouth gaped. “Cloud? I mean, Bee is cool, but the others…,” he trailed off. “That snobby one called us Konoha dogs,” he hissed.

“The snobby one?” Sakura asked.

He nodded. “The one with the hair like mine? But super dark eyes? I don’t think he even knows how to smile!” He huffed and went to fold his arms over his chest and grimaced when there was only one.

“Cee?” Sakura asked. He didn’t seem like the type to say such derogatory things. Was it in reference to Kakashi’s ninken? Cloud and Leaf historically didn’t care for one another and there were decades of animosity between the two. “If I help build up their medical program, the Raikage will agree to Sasuke-kun’s pardon.”

“Oh,” Naruto huffed. “Is that why Kakashi-sensei is going to Mist?” He leaned forwards and waggled his golden eyebrows suggestively. “I seen the way that lava lady ogles him.”

“You two will be recovering from your loss of limb for most of that time,” Sakura reasoned. “Master Tsunade will be working with Captain Yamato on some kind of prosthetics using Hashirama cells and then there will be the rehabilitation. Konoha is still being rebuilt from Pain’s attack. We lost forty-thousand shinobi in this stupid war. If we’re truly going to be allies, we need to share our knowledge.”

“Six months is a long time, Sakura-chan,” Naruto whispers. “You might get lonely.”

“Oh?” Sakura thought back on what she’d seen of the Raikage and the shinobi of Cloud that she’d met. Bee told awful rhymes. Darui seemed pretty reasonable. Mabui was calm and very clever. And then there was Cee- the medic she met briefly two weeks ago. They’d worked together on a surgical case. He’d been a competent medic, even if he’d been a bit standoffish.
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Sakura made her way through the camp with Darui escorting her towards the Kumo shinobi section. It was still early in the morning, but most the army was already up and about. The Raikage’s tent was even larger than Master Tsunade’s — a testament to his overlarge ego or just to the man’s sheer size. He was rather gigantic and Sakura had to crane her head back to even look him in the eyes.

“So the Slug Princess agreed,” Aye marveled when Sakura stood before him with her gear stashed in the bag over her shoulders, travel cloak in place over her standard Jonin attire. His dark eyes centered on the diamond seal on forehead. “The woman that punched a goddess in the head while the rest of us were sleeping.”

Cee cleared his throat. “Haruno-san, it is a welcome sight to see you again.”

Sakura shifted her attention to the blond medic and smiled faintly at the man. She’d seen him only a couple of times, but usually he kept an extremely neutral expression — an impressive feat when around someone as passionate as the Raikage and Killer Bee. She’d been the apprentice to Lady Tsunade for a few years now and there had been meetings with the Raikage in the past— mostly due to Naruto and Bee. It was only Fire and Lightning’s alliance that kept those two from falling into the hands of the Akatsuki — and perhaps a spy on the inside named Uchiha Itachi. Sakura had seen Cee before from a distance, but hadn’t realized he was a medic until they participated in a surgery together a few weeks back. It had been a surprise to learn that one of the Raikage’s most elite guards was a medic.

“Cee,” Sakura rejoined. She didn’t know his real name and doubted that these shinobi had been named after letters by their parents. She wondered what his real name had been prior to him taking his position with the Raikage. And why was Darui not called Dee? A quick glance at the swordsman and she figured that even the Raikage wasn’t going to suggest something that might irritated the man.

The Raikage didn’t seem to appreciate that she spoke to his subordinate and not him. Aye cleared his throat gruffly. “You know the deal. You dedicate six months to Cloud’s medical program. You’ll teach Cee everything you know.”

Cee cleared his throat. “Raikage-sama, it’s not possible for someone as knowledgeable as Haruno-san to teach everything she knows in only six months, but what knowledge she can spare will be much appreciated.” His dark eyes lit up. “Our medical program is rudimentary compared to Konoha’s, but I promise you will have eager students, Haruno-san.”

Sakura felt her faint smile twitching into a broad one. No one had given her this much praise in such a short amount of time! Well, except maybe Shizune-senpai in her early apprenticeship as a form of encouragement.

“And after six months, I will consider pardoning that war criminal teammate of yours,” Aye continued as if he weren’t interrupted.

“I believe you mean the teammate that saved the world from an evil goddess,” Sakura answered tightly, curling her hands into fists, her knuckles cracking.

“I said what I said,” the Raikage protested. “The world wouldn’t have been in danger if he hadn’t…”

“Oh please,” Sakura scoffed. She snapped her mouth shut when Bee started gesturing towards her frantically. She knew Sasuke had been sent to capture Bee’s bijuu, but he was standing unscathed. And well, Konoha ninja were the ones responsible for the war — Madara, Obito. Most of the Akatsuki members had been victimized themselves by shinobi wars. She smiled tightly. “Oh please, consider my atonement in loo of my wayward teammate. He was not of sound mentality. I intend to dedicate my efforts into not only improving the physical health, but the mental health of patients across the continent.”

Bee flashed her a relieved thumbs up and Darui’s stiff posture relaxed.

Then a beautiful woman with skin more tan than Naruto’s and white blond hair strode towards them and laid her manicured hand upon the Raikage’s broad shoulder. His menacing aura seemed to waver just a bit.

Sakura gestured towards his missing hand. “And I do know a bit about prosthetics as well from my training with Lady Chiyo.” Honestly, she’d learned most of her knowledge about prosthetics from her battle with Sasori. The man still haunted her dreams. She and Master Tsunade had already discussed options for her teammates involving Hashirama cells, but that wasn’t something Konoha was willing to share.

The Raikage stiffened again. Maybe it wasn’t so smart to bring up that sore subject again. Sasuke had been the reason he lost his arm.

“We’re heading out in a couple of hours. You’ll be with me,” Cee interjected. He smiled faintly, really transforming his serious face into a handsome one. “I am most eager to hear about your knowledge in prosthetics. Unfortunately, loss of limb is not an uncommon occurrence for shinobi. Our Lightning affinity often makes artificial limbs a challenge. Perhaps we can overcome this quandary together, Haruno-san.”

He started for the tent flap and held it open like a gentleman, waiting for Sakura to join him. Without a backwards glance, Sakura strode towards him, feeling the eyes of the other Cloud shinobi on her back the whole while. Cee let the flap fall closed as they stepped away. When was the last time someone held the door open for her? Or even a tent flap? Most people were properly intimidated by her these days.

“I would say Aye is all bark and no bite, but he has quite the ferocious temper. I’d say your Godaime is probably the only person he’s truly a little afraid of, Haruno-san,” Cee murmured. A glint of amusement shone in his dark eyes as he glanced down at her.

“Look, if we’re going to be working together, you need to stop calling me Haruno-san. Please, call me Sakura. Do I call you Cee?”

“Very well, Sakura,” Cee said. His deep tenor when he said her name sending a delicious thrill down her spine. “Cee is fine.” He led her towards the mess kitchen. “Let’s have some breakfast together. Our camp is breaking up and heading out in a couple of hours. I’ll introduce you to some of the Kumo staples. It might be a bit bland. I know Konoha has more sweet foods and Suna tends to be spicy.”

“I don’t like spicy,” Sakura assured him. She followed as he guided them towards the kitchens and they both picked up trays. He suggested different foods for her to try and they sat across from each other on one of the empty tables. “So, is Cee your given name?” Sakura pressed. “Your parents named you that?”

Cee paused with a potato pancake halfway to his mouth. “Um, no. The Raikage likes to keep things simple. My civilian name is Callum, but that will be our little secret, okay, Sakura? And I’ll continue to call you Haruno-san when we’re at work. I’m afraid some of the other medics might assume you’re a nurse for being female. I want to make sure you are granted the respect you deserve as an elite surgeon.” He gestured for her to try the potato pancake as well.

Sakura mimicked him and rolled it up like him and took a bite. It was surprisingly rich for war rations. There was a blend of herbs mixed in that made her tastebuds sing. “Is that rosemary?”

Cee nodded. “Yes, it is.”

He slid over a dark purple gelatin of some sort. “It’s made from plums.” His cheeks tinted slightly. “My parents have a plum orchard back home. It’s lovely when it blossoms in the late winter.” He cleared his throat. “Maybe I can show you?”

Sakura stared at him for a full twenty seconds before his question really registered. She swallowed the pancake carefully. “Callum, are you asking me out on a date?”

“I’m asking to spend time with you, Sakura —outside of our work at the hospital if you’ll allow it,” Cee explained. “I would love to share with you what makes Cloud special.”

She braced her forearms on the table and leaned towards him. Life was short — Ino had told her that the night before, when she told her about this mission to Cloud. Every day should be considered a gift and shouldn’t be wasted longing for someone that might never come around. Life should be experienced. “That’s a shame, Cee, because if you were asking me out, I might have said yes.”

Cee braced his arms on the table, mirroring Sakura’s position. “I’ll keep that in mind, Sakura.”
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Chapter Text

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The Cloud shinobi broke camp shortly before noon. Sakura found herself as part of a three-man squad of herself, Cee (also known as Callum), and Darui. In Konoha shinobi generally worked in four-men teams. Lightning had a smaller population and usually worked in pairs.

They stopped two hours later for a break near the edge of a forest, trees adorned with yellow, orange, and red autumn foliage. It was early November, the war having ended on Naruto’s birthday. There was a chill in the air, even though winter was still six weeks away. She wasn’t exactly sure how large Lightning was in regards to land mass, but a good portion of the terrain would be tundra if she remembered her geography lessons correctly. Tundra and steep cliffs were what she remembered of the Cloud shinobi homeland. The Hidden village of Kumogakure was in the northern part of the country and the war had been fought at the southeastern border.

“How much farther until we reach Kumo?” Sakura took a sip from her canteen. She wasn’t used to taking a break after just a few hours, but both her escorts had slowed to a casual civilian-like pace on the ground. Normally, her team booked it for half a day, chugging water en route. Though, with the war over, there wasn’t too much of a hurry these days. The biggest concern was simply beating the winter snows. In Konoha, snow wasn’t a problem outside of January and early February. She wasn’t sure what the weather pattern in Lightning was like, but given its northern position winter likely came sooner and more intense.

“We’re not going to Kumo just yet,” Cee explained. “We don’t have a hospital like Konoha. There’s a two story clinic — the second floor is patient rooms for recovery and there’s three operating rooms on the first floor, a small lab for blood analysis and an orthopedic section for setting broken bones and dealing with sprains. There’s also an apothecary shop that has medical teas.”

Sakura stared at Cee silently letting his description of Kumo’s hospital sink in. It was tiny! “What’s the population of Kumogakure?” Konoha had roughly seventy-five thousand people, eighty-percent were either active duty or retired shinobi.

Cee and Darui exchanged a glance. The swordsman shrugged. “There were forty-five thousand souls in Kumo before the war,” Cee answered solemnly.

Considering the shinobi allied forces started out eighty-thousand strong and lost half in the war, each of the villages lost between eight and ten thousand shinobi.

“There are a lot of rural villages within Lightning. We’ll pass through a few before we reach Kumo. The local healers usually send me a report with the kinds of cases they see at least weekly so my team and I can analyze the data to catch epidemics or tainted water sources early,” Cee explained.

“Being stuck inside of a tree for a week or two disrupted communications,” Darui added. “The falcons were probably very confused.”

“We use hawks,” Sakura mused.

“Not surprising,” Cee said. “Falcons prefer cliffs and do well in the higher altitudes. Which is also part of the reason we’re taking a more round-about path to Kumo. It’s going to take you at least a week to gradually acclimate and avoid altitude sickness. Hawks from what I understand do well in forests, deserts and mountains. I believe they are the primary method of communication in Fire, Wind and Earth.” He rubbed his chin thoughtfully. “I don’t know what they use in Mist though.” He glanced back at Darui.

“Seagulls?” Darui guessed. “Sharks? Jellyfish?”

Cee snorted. “Maybe they use dolphins or otters,” he suggested, moving to Sakura’s side. “The healer in this village runs the clinic out of their home. We can probably count on joining their family for some stew. If you see a hare or deer, snag it.” He started to lead the way, weaving in and out between the birch and ash trees of the forest.

“Do you have an established supply for your herbs and medicinal teas?” Sakura asked. “That might be something the allied villages can work to establish a more robust trade route. There are certain desert flowers that cannot be grown in Konoha that Suna has sent, just as there are certain mushrooms that grow in the damp forests of Konoha and Amegakure that would never thrive in the desert or in the mountains.”

“Such an analytical mind,” Cee said, smiling down at her. “Sharing resources and establishing trade will allow our villages to finally move beyond the brutality of being murderers for hire for the elite and glorified escorts.” He stared down at his hands for a moment. “I’d like to be able to say these hands have saved more lives than they’ve taken.”

Sakura pressed her lips together. She understood that mentality. A lot of shinobi suffered the guilt of having to take lives under orders. Not everyone was lucky enough to be able to balance the scales somewhat by literally saving lives.

“I’m going on ahead. I’ll see if I can catch a deer,” Darui said. “Rendezvous in an hour.”

“How far are we from the village?” Sakura asked.

“Probably two hours,” Cee answered. “This is the only area deer live. Normally, mountain goats are the usual protein source.” They fell into step together, he shortened his long-legged stride to match hers. “So, you weren’t inside one of those cocoon things?”

Surprised by the question, Sakura turned towards him, his face was difficult to read, but after years of reading the subtle clues from Kakashi-sensei’s mostly obscured face, she could see the tense line between his eyes. “No.” She had gone toe to toe with the horrors of a deranged goddess instead. “Do you remember what you dreamed about?” Ino apparently had dreamed about Sai and Sasuke doting on her hand and foot and worshipping her like a queen. What would Sakura have dreamed about?

Cee nodded. “I do,” his tone was haunted. His eyes darted to the left and he pulled a ninja star from his vest. Sakura had followed the movement with rapt attention and sucked in an impressed breath between her teeth. Normally, she set traps for her prey, but this man had just tossed a shuriken and then proceeded to do so twice more in rapid succession. Each of the shuriken glowed faintly with blue lightning chakra infused into the metal, electrocuting the hares instantly.

“Stops their heart,” Cee explained. He met Sakura’s wide eyes. “Modification of the jutsu used for defibrillation of the heart.”

“You reverse engineered a medical ninjutsu technique to catch dinner?” Sakura asked incredulous.

Cee frowned. “No, Sakura. I reverse engineered a technique Cloud shinobi have used for generations to catch dinner into restarting people’s hearts. Kumo has never been blessed with the likes of Lady Tsunade or Lady Chiyo.”

“Oh.” Sakura’s voice was small. Hopefully, they also didn’t have the likes of Orochimaru and Danzo, but she doubted that. It seemed all the hidden villages were plagued by shadowy figures. She didn’t know all the details, but Hinata was almost kidnapped by Cloud shinobi when they’d been toddlers. That event sparked the consequences of Neji being branded and his father being killed. And now Neji was gone. “Well, Callum, I’ll do my best.”

“I have no doubt,” Cee answered. “Remember, call me Cee when we’re around others. Lord Aye is very particular.” He strode towards the slain hares and gathered them, pulling a cord from his vest and securing their legs and then tossing the catch over his shoulder. “So you didn’t experience the cocoons at all?”

Sakura shook her head. “From what I understand it was a dream world?”

Cee nodded. “The thing is, most people likely realized it was a dream world yet there was no way to break the altered reality.”

While she hadn’t been stuck in one of those cocoons, Sasuke had trapped Sakura inside a rather extensive dream using his Mangekyo Sharingan. It was the same power that placed both Kakashi and Sasuke in a coma for a month back when she’d been a fresh genin. The fact that she woke up on her own was testament to her natural resistance to genjutsu. She was aware it was a dream world too — life as the Uchiha matriarch with a yard full of moody, dark-haired brats. Though, the Sasuke in that dream had been a nice, handsome husband. He’d been attentive, kind, doting— definitely nothing like the destructive boy she chased after for years. “I can understand a little what that must have felt like.” She actually still missed those dream children — Sarada, Shisui, Kagami, Mikoto.

“Let’s sit for a moment,” Cee suggested. He gestured towards a collection of large, flat hexagonal basalt stones. Sakura followed after him as he laid the hares down on the stones and then patted the stone to his left. Sakura sat next to him. “In my dream — I was married and lived next door to my sister and her family. My sister has been dead for a decade. One of my two nephews was killed in the first wave of the war.”

Sakura pressed her lips together in sympathy.

“If I’m going to spend time with the ghosts of my loved ones, I’d rather it be in the Purelands, not having my life-force fed to some parasite alien tree,” Cee continued.

“What about your dream wife?” Sakura asked. She noticed his pale cheeks darkened in a faint blush.

Cee cleared his throat and stared out across the stone formation. “Well,” he started, licking his suddenly parched lips. Sakura held out her canteen for him and he took it, sipping from the water briefly before handing it back with a muttered thanks. “So, my dream wife was a woman I was only barely acquainted with,” he explained. “I’d seen her from afar a few times, but I hadn’t actually met her until a few weeks ago. When she helped me save the life of my other nephew.”

Sakura took a swig of the canteen herself. Surely, he wasn’t talking about her. She did remember the patient they worked on together — a young man with blond hair that did have a striking appearance to Cee. “Callum?”

He nodded. “You were my wife in that dream world, Sakura.” He released a raspy chuckle and ran his long fingers though his fine, blond hair. “I knew it wasn’t real.” He turned towards her, his dark obsidian eyes intense on her face. “What would the goddess of Konoha want with a lowly mortal like me? Especially with me being from Cloud. My village and yours has so much dark history between them. I’m sure you remember the Hyuga kidnapping from fourteen years ago? Who knows how long this alliance will last. I hope for the duration of our lifetime and maybe this sojourn of yours can really make a difference. I have placed my hope for peace between Konoha and Cloud in you, Sakura Haruno.”

Sakura stared at him. Callum’s declaration was different than the childhood crushes Naruto and Lee used to proclaim in her early teens. It was different than the various former patients that would declare their devotion and appreciation to her. This fellow shinobi was attracted to her because of her skills working alongside him in the operating arena and her reputation as a kunoichi. From the sounds of his words, he seemed to think that like Naruto maybe she could inspire people to try their best. “I have been on precisely one date in my entire life, Callum. My teammate Naruto took me to eat ramen once when we were fourteen. That’s it. I’m human, same as you.” She wasn’t the god-blessed reincarnation of Indra and Ashura.

Cee frowned. “I thought Uzumaki had declared you his love interest. It would make sense. The heroes of the Fourth War.”

Sakura shook her head. “We love each other, but as friends. Naruto has moved on.” She thought about the looks she’d seen him exchange with Hinata.

“And the wayward Uchiha? Did he not come to fight in the war because of his love for you?” Cee pressed.

Sakura straight up laughed at that. “Twice, he let me plummet towards a lake of lava and left me to die.”

His frown deepened. “That bastard did what?”

Sakura realized her mistake. The whole reason she’d agreed to this mission was to earn Sasuke a stay of execution. She waved her hand dismissively. “He was busy fighting an actual goddess. Kakashi-sensei saved me.” Multiple times.

“Ah,” Cee said, his dark eyes looking away and sweeping over the stone formations absently. “Yes. Hatake makes sense.” He nodded his head. “He’s a worthy man. I can accept never having a chance to your heart with someone like him in your life.”

This time Sakura frowned. She reached for the back of Cee’s hand and touched her fingertips to his knuckles gently. She wore a new pair of finger-less gloves, a gift from Hatake before she left. “Kakashi-sensei is my captain. We look out for each other. We’re friends.”

Kakashi had known her for too many years. He probably still thought of her as that annoying twelve year old that fawned over her teammate. Though, she knew he considered her his friend. She was proud to be friends with such a great man.

Cee stared down at their joined hands for a moment, before he flipped his hand, threading their fingers together, palms pressed against one another. He looked back into her eyes, searching her face. “Sakura Haruno, would you consider accepting the affection of this smitten Cloud shinobi? I would like to take you on a date, show you the Land of Lightning.” He smiled faintly. “I should very much like to make you smile.”

“Are you asking to be my boyfriend?” Sakura asked, feeling confused and excited and definitely nervous.

A soft smile spread across Cee’s handsome face. “I’m asking to be your friend, but I would work hard to gain your favor to be more.” He stood and, still holding Sakura’s hand helped her to stand as well. “Do you know how to flash-step? We’ve dawdled too long, Darui will start looking for us and he tends to become irritable when he’s left waiting.”

“Oh, I cannot channel Lightning,” Sakura admitted. “It’s not one of my natures.”

“You have an affinity for Water chakra, do you not?” Cee squeezed her hand briefly before releasing her. “There is also a technique using water. I’ll show it to you and then if you’ll follow me. I know you’re a fast learner. You’ll have this down in no time,” he added confidently.

He was offering to teach her something? The ever eager to learn and receive praise part of her warmed up to the idea. These next six months might end up being much more enjoyable than she first imagined. “I’d like that.”
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Elsewhere, en route to the Islands of Water
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“And then in my dream, we had at least seven children,” Mei continued, trailing her hand down Kakashi’s arm. “Of course, some of them weren’t yours.” She sighed. “Remember, Zabuza? He was another one of my husbands. It was such a nice reality.”

“Uh huh,” Kakashi said, plucking her hand off his person and side stepping her next attempt at embracing him. He put Gai and his wheelchair pointedly between them. “I hope you’ll be able to fully recover from the dream,” he added sincerely. “I spent a month in a coma after Itachi Uchiha placed me in a similar condition. It was difficult to recover.”

Mei’s smile was predatory as she laid a hand upon Gai’s forearm braced over the wheelchair. “Why would I need to recover? I would enjoy reliving parts.”

“While the springtime of youth looks great on you, Mizukage Terumi, Kakashi has taken a vow of celibacy. Please, I ask that you not tempt the poor man. He is a good friend to try and care for me,” Gai explained.

Kakashi’s eyes flicked down at his friend in a moment of shock, but he was grateful his mask hid his gaping mouth. Though, having two visible eyes might have given the redhead bombshell an indication if she were paying attention.

Instead, Mei braced both hands on either side of Gai’s wheelchair and leaned down until her long hair swept over into Gai’s lap. “And you, Blue Beast of Konoha opening the Eighth Gate and living? Guess who was my third husband?”

This time Kakashi’s jaw really did fall open and it would be obvious even with his mask.

Luckily, their conversation was interrupted by Mei’s assistant Chojuro.

After she was out of ear shot. “A vow of celibacy, huh?” Kakashi whispered near Gai’s ear.

The green-clan jonin shrugged. “I am unable to perform at present while I recover according to Lady Tsunade. If you were my real rival, you too would participate in this challenge.” He wagged this thick, bushy eyebrows. “Unless you wish to sample the lovely ladies and or men of Mist.”

“No thank you, I’m fine,” Kakashi growled. Honestly, there was only one person that came to mind these last few weeks when it came to wanting any form of intimacy. It wasn’t exactly sex he craved, but just having warm, familiar arms wrapped around him, a shoulder to lay his head on, a precious person to hold close and simply breath in the floral scent of her pink hair. Maybe hold her in his arms when she wasn’t about to be stabbed through the heart with a lightning infused hand or dropped into a lake of lava.

He cleared his throat somewhat apologetic when Gai’s wheelchair rolled over a particularly bumpy patch in the road.

Sakura would do well in Lightning, she always exceeded expectations. It was just feeling rather lost not being able to see her for half a year after they’d spent so much time in one another’s company these last few weeks. It had been less than a week since they parted ways and he missed her. He felt a sense of closure after the Pain attack having seen his father’s spirit at the campfire between this life and the next. He was able to talk to Minato-sensei and work alongside Obito to save the world. Obito had fallen into such darkness and in the end, he’d been able to redeem himself.

He had a flash of memory of seeing Obito and Sakura working together. Both people Kakashi had underestimated and yet they’d both pulled off miracles. He thought he knew how to see the underneath of the underneath and yet he misjudged two of his most precious friends.

“If you keep moping, I’m going to tell the Mizukage I was mistaken and that you had not taken a vow of celibacy,” Gai warned.

“Mah, mah, don’t be mean,” Kakashi hissed.
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Cee went into detail about the mechanics of flash-stepping using the Mist water technique. He explained exactly how to channel the appropriate chakra, where to focus it, and how to determine one’s planned destination. He admitted that the Cloud shinobi had copied the method from prisoners of war in the second ninja war. Only about fifteen percent of the ninja in Lightning had an affinity for water — lightning being the predominant chakra nature. Those that had both affinities, generally chose to use lightning because it was easier to apply.

After about twenty minutes, Sakura felt she had a pretty good grasp on the theory. “Alright, let me try.” Sakura clenched her hands into fists eagerly.

“Sakura, it’s not something you just do!” Cee shook his head with a faint smile. “You don’t have to master every thing immediately. We’ll try when we have a bit more time.”

“I mastered tree-walking on my first try when I was twelve,” Sakura explained. “And the next day, I mastered water-walking after a couple of hours.”

Callum’s dark eyes widened at her words and then centered on her forehead on the nearly impossible diamond seal that blazed proudly. He shook his head with a chuckle. “Alright, we probably have a little time before Darui gets here. I’ll deal with his surly attitude.” He stepped a few paces away and held out his arms wide. “Come at me.”

“I don’t think that’s a good idea. What if I travel with too much momentum and run right through you?” Sakura worried. She could just imagine plowing right through him and having to try and patch him back together. “Maybe you should stand aside?”

“I’ll flash-step out of the way. Don’t forget I’m also a Jonin, Sakura. I can handle a bit of a challenge.” He curled his fingers towards himself in invitation. “You can do it!”

Sakura closed her eyes for a moment to center herself and then she coated her body with water chakra. She opened her eyes, feeling her hair plastered against her neck and met Cee’s intense gaze. Then she took off.

And she managed to travel about half a meter before she stumbled. Cee caught her against him, his arms banded around her as her face pressed against his throat. The feeling of his own water jutsu shielding him from impact made her realize he was in no real danger. Of course not! He’s also a talented medic. He knew exactly what needed to be done to protect himself.

“That was amazing, Sakura,” Cee praised, angling his head back to look down at her with a proud smile. “I always knew I was a great teacher.” He waggled his blond eyebrows teasingly.

“That was more of a stumble than a flash-step,” Sakura grumbled disappointed at her failed effort, yet feeling a heat in her belly at their proximity. He’d released his water shield and her hands were pressed against Callum’s toned abdominals.

“I stand by my original opinion — that was amazing.” His dark eyes simmered with conviction. “You’re amazing.” His palm splayed over her low back squeezing her gently before he released her from his embrace.

They stared into each other’s eyes, both lost in their own thoughts and in their proximity. It was so strange how easily Callum seemed to be touch Sakura. Everyone always kept their distance from her. Well, Naruto was usually a bit clingy, but he was family, so it was usually okay. When it wasn’t, she’d let him know. Sasuke held her hand twice when they’d first been teammates. And Kakashi — during the last battle — honestly it was the first time she’d noticed him as a man rather than her team leader. She remembered her place. She was here and Kakashi was in Mist doing the same thing, trying to save Sasuke’s life from suffering the repercussions of his own foolish avenging. At least Kakashi had Gai Might with him. Hopefully, he was doing okay. She also worried about both Naruto and Sasuke coping with their lost arms. Part of her wished she was back in the village, helping with the recovery.

“Where’d you go?” Cee asked quietly, his eyes dark with concern. His warm hand gently cupped her cheek.

There was a sudden flare of chakra and Darui cleared his throat loudly. Cee drew his hand back to his side. Darui stood on the other side of the small clearing within the forest with a deer carcass slung over his broad shoulders. “If you two are done dawdling, we need to hurry or else it will be dark when we reach the villagers.”

“Let’s hurry along. We need to reach the village healer before dark, or else we’ll be viewed as rude,” Cee explained. He picked back up the rabbits from earlier and started towards the woods and Sakura feel into step beside him.

“So, are there several clans living within each village?” Sakura asked. She slung her pack over her shoulders, thumbs tucked under her straps so she wouldn’t be tempted to do something silly — like reach for Cee’s hand. She had a sneaking suspicion if she reached for him, that he’d accept her hand. He might even twine their fingers together — something she’d seen in the manga she and Ino used to fawn over — but had never experienced in real life. She could feel her cheeks burn at the fantasy.

“Ah, let me clarify. We don’t really talk about clans here in Lightning,” Cee explained. “The Third Raikage banned the use of surnames amongst shinobi. Once you’re active duty, you drop your clan affiliation.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “Civilians and rural villagers still acknowledge their clans.”

Sakura stared at Cee in disbelief. His name had been changed from Callum to Cee by the Raikage and he had to also abandon his clan name? In Konoha one’s clan formed a major part of their identity. “I was the only graduate from the Academy my year that didn’t come from a shinobi clan. Even though my parents are civilians, I appreciate my family name. Haruno ties me to my ancestors.”

Cee sighed. “It’s taboo in Lightning. And it’s everyone. The Raikage changes their name to Aye as well. We are judged for our abilities, not our family. There was so much fighting between clans that when the Village hidden in the Clouds was established, the shinobi unified under one banner so that clan politics wouldn’t interfere.” He sighed. “That’s what happened to your Senju isn’t it? They integrated with the other villagers and dropped their clan name.”

Sakura pursed her lips. That was right. Tobirama and Hashirama were the last official Senjus. Their children and grandchildren had dropped their clan name. And the entire Uchiha clan had been wiped out in an act of violence orchestrated by a corrupt underground regimen. “I see. There is a certain sense I suppose.”

“It’s part of the reason the Hyuga clan was singled out years ago,” Cee continued. “Their arrogance has spread far and wide. After the bad blood in the Third war, the animosity remained. It was a Hyuga that killed the brother of the Third Raikage in battle.” He sighed. “I really hope this alliance will lead to the resolution of those old animosities.”

“So, are you not allowed to talk to people from your clan once you become a shinobi?” Sakura asked.

“It’s not like I pretend my parents don’t exist,” Cee protested. “My father died a few years back — an illness. Something our hospital was ill equipped to deal with. My mother retired from active duty once she married.” He reached for Sakura’s wrist and turned her towards him, she let him haul her against him and braced herself for when he leaned close to her ear. “My former clan is the Namikaze. Please, keep that between us. We’ll actually visit my old village en route to Kumo.”

Sakura gaped at him as he released her and strode forward as if he hadn’t just revealed to be related to the Yondaime Minato Namikaze— Naruto’s father! “I’m so sorry about your father, Callum. But, I have so many questions!”

Cee held up a hand, the signal for silence that the allied forces used for communication. Then he glanced over his shoulder at her, his dark eyes danced with amusement. “We’ll talk later, I promise. Remember, call me Cee in front of others. Now isn’t the time for personal questions.” He gestured towards a cluster of wooden cabins. “We’re here.”

The villagers met the trio and were for the most part friendly. Cee and Darui were well known as two of the Raikage’s most trusted shinobi. The healer Jun and her husband Tohri were gracious hosts. Cee had been completely transparent about Sakura’s identity and rather than experiencing immediate dislike for her Konoha roots, they’d been excited to meet the apprentice of the Sannin Tsunade and teammate of the great Uzumaki Naruto. His reputation against Pain and then in the final battle had spread far and wide. His friendship with Killer Bee had engrained him in the hearts of the people of Lightning.

Sakura was a little annoyed that Naruto had been singled out, but he deserved the acknowledgement. Though, she also discovered that she had earned a page within Kumo’s Bingo book prior to the Alliance for her success against Sasori and her connections to the kage of both Konoha and Suna.

They had stew for dinner with the rabbit meat and planned to save the deer for steaks the next day. Afterwards, Sakura sat on the back porch with the Jun, discussing some of the local herbs while Cee and Darui made rounds with Tohri — whom happened to be in charge of the village’s security. The deadly god tree had even affected the people this far. All the villagers had been trapped within the cocoons, dreaming away while their life-force had slowly been drained. Not everyone had survived the ordeal and those that did were all haunted by the experience.

“The rosemary is my personal favorite,” Jun said. “Plus, not only does it keep the mosquitos away in the spring and summer, I really like the smell.”

“We have a lot of these same herbs in Konoha,” Sakura admitted. “The forest here is a similar enough environment.” She smiled faintly. “And one of my favorite shampoos has rosemary as a base ingredient.”

“I don’t possess the ability to manipulate chakra,” Jun said quietly, turning her wrinkled hands over slowly. “Though my sutures, teas, and splints are rather passable. My niece wants to start training in the art. Hopefully, you’ll be able to share your knowledge.”

“Even we don’t always use chakra in the hospital or the field.” Sakura smiled at the older healer. “Even before I trained under Master Tsunade, I knew the importance of a well-stocked first aid kit. I grew up with civilian parents, so my skinned knees were treated with with soap, clean water, salves and bandages. I learned my first stitches from my mother. We didn’t have a lot of money so mending one’s clothes is imperative. It’s come in handy with treating lacerations and surgeries. The body is capable of miraculous things and should be given a chance to do what it does.”

“Agreed,” the Healer murmured. “You’re talented and practical, just what I’d expect from the apprentice of the great Tsunade.” She gestured towards the distance. “Famine might be more of an issue than anything else this coming year. With that war, not as much crops were harvested and some of it was damaged. And that cursed tree. So many of the villagers are coming to me asking for teas to help them sleep. So many are haunted by nightmares now.”

Sakura worried on her bottom lip. Every war played a heavy toll on the mental health of the survivors— military and civilian alike. This particular war affected not only the veterans with nightmares, but everyone that had been caught in the Rabbit goddess’ trap.

“People should be able to talk about what happened. Pretending it didn’t happen will only make it worse. Maybe we can form support groups?” Sakura suggested.

“I fear some experiences were too private,” Jun argued. “Though, a support group is a good place to start.” She nodded. “I’ll work on setting up a meeting same as we do for village concerns.”

“I plan to work with Cee-san about establishing an internal supply chain for herbs so that the ones not native to this region can be available. Suna has some particular desert blooming remedies that it’s impossible to grow elsewhere,” Sakura added, thinking back to what she learned during her brief tutelage with Lady Chiyo.

“Do you know what I should expect for tomorrow?” Sakura asked after the two had fallen into a quiet spell. Cee, Darui and Tohri had been gone for almost an hour at this point.

“Well, my niece and I will be there as well as the three nurses that assist us,” Jun said. “I’ll be sure to send young Rito and Fumio to knock on doors and as the entire village to make a stop within the next two days for a check up. I feel after the ordeal with that evil tree and those undead shinobi that everyone should be given a basic look over.” She tossed her long gray braid over her shoulder. “We will work alongside Cee and yourself. Learn by observation.”

“How many villagers are there?” Sakura couldn’t imagine seeing the entire popular within two days’ time. Most villages in the Land of Fire — even the rural ones — were usually at least three hundred souls.

“Two hundred before the war. Now we number around one-seventy-five,” Jun answered with a tired sigh. She braced her hands upon her knees and stood, her old back creaking in the movement. “Though, I suspect we’ll have quite the baby boom by next fall.” She looked down at Sakura with shrewd light-brown eyes. “You know, when I was your age I was already heavy with my second child.”

Not much later, Cee and Darui returned. The three shinobi were given the guest room at the Healer’s home. “We prepared the guest room in anticipation of your arrival.” She tugged on the end of her thick gray braid again. “Unfortunately, we only have two bedrolls.”

“That’s fine, Lady Jun,” Cee assured her, his tone business like and matter-of-fact. “We have our own. We just require enough floor space.” He caught Sakura’s eye and smiled briefly before looking back at the Healer. “We’d like to stay for a couple of days,” Cee said. “We can do a tour of the herbs here, help at the clinic as needed of course. I’d like to run diagnostics on the villagers and make sure no one has any residual effects from the tree.”

“I’ve already asked my two errand boys to make rounds tomorrow to bring the villagers into the clinic,” Jun agreed. “We’re honored to have such esteemed guests in our midst! That old witch Oda is going to be so green with envy!” She cackled.

“Oda is the Healer about three days journey north of here,” Cee explained. He rubbed at his forehead with a grimace.

“Are you okay?” Sakura whispered as they started for the guest room.

“Minor headache,” Cee murmured. “I have some willow bark in my pack.”

Willow bark was a good herbal remedy for migraines. Sakura had used it on patients herself. And while a medic could heal themselves with their own chakra, it was generally frowned upon. “I can treat you with my mystical palm if you want.”

“It’s fine. The willow bark works well enough and you should save your chakra for tomorrow,” Cee protested. “We might need it.” He pushed open the door for the guest room and flipped on the light before gesturing towards the attached bathroom. “Darui and I decided you should have first dibs on the bath. I plan to add some chamomile to my tea. Would you like a brew to help with sleep?”

Sakura wasn’t about to argue with the bath. “After our travels, I should be fine to sleep without any teas.”
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Sakura snuggled within the warm confines of her bedroll. She used a bar of her rosemary shampoo and the scent emanating off of her unbound hair helped calm her, but she hadn’t fallen asleep yet. Maybe she should have accepted some chamomile tea. She underestimated her body’s stubborn refusal to sleep while sharing a room with both Cee and Darui in a foreign village. She’d never been this far from home without any of her teammates. Cee was technically her boyfriend, sort of, but she still didn’t know him that well. She trusted him — sort of. Though, Master Tsunade had taught her long ago that she should never fully trust a man with a pretty face. And Callum’s face was rather pretty — probably the Namikaze gene. The Yondaime had been a rather handsome man. And as much as it was weird to admit given her sibling-type love for her teammate, Naruto was pretty decent looking too.

Cee’s bedroll was beside hers while Darui settled on the far side of the small room. The blond turned to face towards her and Sakura pulled her covers down below her chin so they could talk. “Hey, are you sure you don’t want some tea?”

“I still want to see if I can do without,” Sakura whispered. “How’s the headache.”

“Barely noticeable.”

“We should work on condensing the ingredients you used in the tea to a capsule form,” Sakura suggested. She’d created a pretty impressive soldier pill that had proved quite useful for Konoha shinobi over the last two years. She’d also created anti-inflammatory capsules from the yellow yarrow herb. While she wasn’t at liberty to discuss the soldier pills outside of Konoha, the fever reducer would be an excellent innovation to share.

“I tried. It tastes like grass and tends to have the side effect of indigestion.” Cee sighed. “I’ll show you my formula. Maybe you can help me figure out where I went wrong.”

“I made a capsule for a fever reducer and anti-inflammatory,” Sakura whispered back.

“Oh? From Yellow Yarrow or something else?” Cee asked, shifting in his bedroll and scooting a smidge closer.

“Yarrow,” she answered. “It doesn’t have much taste, but I had to distill the water used in the formulation. It could be the minerals in the water are causing a higher acidity.”

“Of course,” Cee groaned. “There are fairly high levels of zinc in the soil of Lightning. Distillation would be the best solution. It might become volatile if I added more potassium or cause more gastrointestinal issues if I added magnesium.”

“You could use the residual zinc from the distillation process as a supplement,” Sakura suggested thoughtfully. “It would be helpful in a salve to reduce rashes or in a capsule itself to boost the immune system.”

“Oh my Kami! You two are such nerds! Can you shut up!?” Darui hissed.

Cee pointed his index and thumb at Darui and shot a short burst of lightning that zinged the other man, causing his hair to spark. “Hush. The scientists are speaking.”

Darui huffed, but said no more.

Sakura covered her mouth to repress a giggle. Their antics made her think briefly of some of the interactions between Naruto and Sai. “Are all the villages like this one?” Sakura asked. “Less than two hundred people? The Healer and Chief of Security serving as the elders?”

A warm smile spread across Cee’s full lips. “Not always, but there is an elder in charge in each village with a small trusted council. There are similarities, of course. I want us to visit as many villages as possible over the next couple of weeks while the weather is fair. Most are less than three hundred people. Only Kumo itself boasts a big population.”

“The Country of Lightning turns into an frozen wasteland in about a month,” Darui added. “And most villages are likely less than two hundred people now. After the war. Akatsuki sent a lot of those plant monster things for Killer Bee over the last year. Their violence was pretty nondiscriminatory. There were a lot of casualties before that final battle.”

“I heard you were the one that discovered the Zetsu clone within the medic base,” Cee murmured. “You saved a lot of lives with that observation. I fear we’ll discover a good portion of the casualties of the villages were imposters.”

At least Zetsu was now gone. “He won’t be a problem anymore. Naruto and Sasuke-kun sealed away Zetsu along with the Rabbit goddess.” There was still so much she didn’t quite understand about Kaguya and Zetsu. Hopefully, it would be another ten-thousand years before their world had to worry about such creatures again.

“You shouldn’t refer to the Uchiha terrorist with such familiarly, Haruno,” Darui scoffed.

Sakura wanted to snap that Sasuke played a crucial role in the war. If it hadn’t been for his working with his old teammates, the world would be trapped in their dreams until their bodies were consumed.

Perhaps he sensed her desire to defend her teammate, but before she could, Cee spoke. “We’ll be sure to pick up some winter clothes during our travels.” He held his hand over his mouth to stifle a yawn. He then scooted his bedroll a little closer to Sakura’s so that they were only inches apart, his warm breath fanned across her cheeks. “Once we get to Kumo, I’ll help you find a place to live. There will be quite a few abandoned apartments with the losses we sustained from the war.”

“No thanks, I don’t want to impose on anyone’s family’s grief,” Sakura argued. “Most of Konoha was destroyed in the Pain attack. So I started staying at the hospital after my apartment was destroyed. Maybe I can do the same.”

He sighed. “Mabui and Samui had an apartment together. They could probably convert their office into a bedroom. I feel you’d likely get along with them.”

Sakura wasn’t eager to stay with more strangers. She certainly didn’t think inconveniencing people would endear herself to them. “How many bathrooms?”

Cee frowned. “Well, there’s just the one.”

One bathroom and three women? “Hard pass.” Sakura wasn’t particularly vane, but she wasn’t about to risk those types of confrontations.

“Ah, I suppose that would be a problem.” He rolled onto his back and stared up at the ceiling. “You could just live with me? My nephew mentioned he was planning to move out soon, after we returned from the war. It’s two bedroom and it's shared bath is a jack and jill so two sinks and the toilet and shower are separate areas.” He turned to face her, his dark eyes seemed to sparkle in the moonlight that trickled in past the window’s curtain.

Should Sakura move in with her new and first time boyfriend? It felt like a very grownup thing to do, but there’s no one in Cloud she knew better than Cee and this would be an opportunity to fully explore a relationship with him. She smiled shyly. “Well, so long as I have access to a nice, hot shower when I need it.”

Cee grinned. “I’d like to add that you’ll be having a roommate that loves to cook.”

“That sounds like a deal to me,” Sakura answered, a giddy giggle erupting from her mouth.

Cee reached for Sakura then, his hand groping for hers. He clutched at her fingers. “I’ll send a falcon to my nephew. Tell him to start looking with haste.”

Holding hands with the handsome, older medic, Sakura fell asleep. She didn’t need that tea after all.
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The next day was rather busy, the clinic was constantly occupied with a steady stream of patients. The village Healer, her niece, and three nurses were present to evaluate the villagers. The entire populace wanted to be evaluated by the shinobi medics. Most wanted to see Cee — suspicious of a Konoha kunoichi. However, by that afternoon, Sakura and Cee were equally busy. Very few patients were ill or injured, most were simply curious and were worried if there had been any lingering issues from their time in the pods.

“Sakura! I need your assistance!” Cee’s voice carried from the far side of the clinic.

Sakura turned towards the nurse assisting her to wrap up things with her patient after she secured the split on his arm and warned him against future tree climbing without supervision. After she washed her hands, she hurried towards Cee and his patient. Gone was the softly smiling, charming man from the day before. The medic standing before her was intense and focused. He barked out orders and the clinic’s staff was quick to accommodate.

“This man’s been poisoned,” Cee announced, staring steadily at Sakura. “The Kazekage shared what you did for his brother. Can you do it again?” He held up a vial of dark purple substance. “I was able to extract this much for analysis. His vitals keep crashing on me.”

“Leave him to me,” Sakura ordered. “How are you with antidotes?”

A faint smile crossed Cee’s lips. “I’m no Haruno Sakura, but I’m not a slouch either.”

“Observe for a bit, then get to work studying the poison,” Sakura suggested. As she dived into her mystical palm coupled with poison extraction, she felt the heavy gaze of the Cloud medic on her.

As Sakura worked to remove the poison, she couldn’t help but feel it was oddly similar to when she’d saved Kankuro years ago.
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Sakura
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There were certain cultural aspects in the Land of Lightning that simply didn’t make sense to Sakura. The erasure of clan names being one of those customs. However, what did make sense was the moon-eyes half the female population had for Cee.

Ironically, he never seemed to notice, but Sakura definitely did. It was like Academy Sasuke all over again— Sakura was just one of many women that had fallen for Cee’s charms. Though, unlike her school days, Sakura’s interest in Cee was actually reciprocated.

As Sakura stood on the rooftop of the clinic of their latest village, she watched the sunset. A moment later, she sensed Cee’s chakra signature as he approached. Then she felt the warmth his body as he stood behind her, hands comfortable on her hips.

“Did you ever have a cat growing up?” Cee asked, settling his chin on Sakura’s shoulder, his cheek pressed against hers.

“A cat?” Sakura didn’t have any pets growing up. Her mother had been allergic to cats. She did spend time with Kakashi’s ninken and there was that one oversized cat all the genin trained in capturing for the daimyo’s wife. “No. Why?”

“Well, when a cat wants to show its appreciation to its master, it brings dead rats to the door,” Cee explained. “It shows it can hunt and it’s a way of indicating its desire to provide for its master.”

“Okay,” Sakura murmured. That was a bit gross, but it made sense. Animal instincts were like that. “Is this you trying to tell me you have a pet cat for when we get back to Kumo?”

Cee chuckled. “I’m more of a dog person and no.” He shifted and kissed her cheek softly before releasing her to sit on the edge of the roof, his legs dangled below. “I don’t believe in coincidences.”

“Neither do I,” Sakura agreed. She brushed her fingertips over her cheek, it was still warm from his lips. She smiled faintly, then sobered, catching on to her boyfriend’s train of thought. “The poisonings.”

“The poisonings,” Cee repeated. “Every village we’ve visited, but no where else. I feel you have some sort of sick admirer.” He looked over at her, his dark gaze meeting hers in the fading light. “Orochimaru wouldn’t venture this far north. Like a snake, he’s always avoided the colder climates.”

Sakura said nothing, pondering the possibilities. It had become clear that the poisons were leagues beyond Cee’s capabilities and he was a very capable medic. The formula reminded her of the poison she’d extracted from Kankuro years ago. “There was only one person I knew that crafted poisons such as these — slow and devastating. If you have the right antidote, the victim can be spared. Otherwise, they are dead in seventy-two hours.”

“So you do know who the terrorist is,” Cee whispered, turning towards her with eyes wide.

“Sasori of the Red Sands has been dead for several years,” Sakura answered. “Though, perhaps he had an admirer or a secret apprentice.” She shook her head, dispelling the possibilities. Kankuro has his old puppet body in his army and while Sasori’s soul had been resurrected in the Edo Tensei, he like so many others would have vanished.

“What about Edo Tensei? Is there a way to resist its dismissal?” Cee pressed. “Your Hokages joined the war, yet were still there when then undead army vanished.”

“They were summoned by someone else,” Sakura answered. Orochimaru had brought them back and Kabuto has been responsible for the others. Though, Sasori had once been partners with Orochimaru and considered Kabuto his spy. “It is possible to break the hold of Edo Tensei if the spirit was familiar with the jutsu. Sasori may have known about it.”

“Is there a reason he would be obsessed with you?” Cee asked.

“Did you never read my Bingo book entry?” Sakura asked.

“Oh! He’s the Akatsuki you defeated,” Cee realized. “He slaughtered an entire Lightning village in one day by himself about ten years back.” He shivered. “He was like the boogy-man. He would kill you and then turn your corpse part of his macabre puppet army.”

Sakura nodded. She’d come close to such a fate. “I fought alongside his grandmother. Somehow, seeing her work with the apprentice of her much hated rival moved him. He could have evaded our last attack.”

Cee chuckled. “Why am I not surprised? You managed to capture the heart of even your enemies.”

“I really don’t think it’s him. I mean, I didn’t know him well, but he struck me as a more straight forward sort,” Sakura argued. Not that she had a better suggestion. She moved to sit beside him on the rooftop, thighs pressed together. “What about this other illness I keep hearing about? Some sort of flower disease?”

“According to the message the falcon brought yesterday, there’s been a rise of Hanahaki disease in the Kinoko provence,” Cee answered. “It’s very real. The victim coughs up petals and eventually they suffocate unless they confess their love. And if its unrequited, they’ll die without surgery.”

“That’s non-sense,” Sakura protested. “It’s some sort of lung disease — I’ll believe, but unrequited love as a cause makes no sense in actual science.” She shoved his shoulder gently, playfully, wary of her own strength. “You should know better, Cee. Use the rational pat of your brain. The stress could lower the immune system and make the patient more susceptive to pulmonary diseases.”

Cee laid his arm over Sakura’s shoulders and hugged her close. “Well, you can make your own observations soon enough. There are two cases of Hanahaki in the next village on our journey.” He pressed a kiss to her temple. “Perhaps the talented Haruno Sakura can find a cure for that disease as well!”

“What if it’s some sort of fungal disease attacking the respiratory system and creating spores that look like flower petals when coupled with bloody tissue from the inflamed bronchial,” Sakura suggested. “You said Kinoko province. Are all the cases in that province? Why is it named Kinoko? Is there some defining characteristic to the area?”

“Yes, they all happen in that province,” Cee admitted. He hummed thoughtfully. “Maybe you’re on to something. It’s named for the plethora of mushrooms that grow there.”

“Spores,” Sakura pointed out. “Spores are a common cause of atypical lung diseases.”

“Then it truly is a coincidence that all the victims have a love they’ve not confessed to.” Cee slipped his fingers into Sakura’s hair, gently tangling her locks. “Yet, neither of us believe in coincidence.”

“Perhaps it is simply the demographic. Single individuals are venturing into territory with riskier jobs than those married and more settled. Maybe they are working around certain fungi and becoming infected. To rule that out, masks to filter the air would be smart if that’s the cause.” Sakura brought her own hands into Cee’s golden locks. His hair was so soft and fine. She’d only ever felt a man’s hair twice before.

Sasuke’s hair when they’d been genin and he’d been injured and she’d comforted him, his raven hair had been soft and silky. And then there’d been the times Kakashi-sensei had passed out from chakra exhaustion. She’d applied a damp washcloth to his forehead, brushed back his unruly silver locks. His hair had been soft too. It had surprised her, she thought it would be more coarse. It turns out his hair was silver and not wiry grey. “So these victims, maybe they are being exposed to the spores in the damp forests with their more hazardous jobs? Or caves? If that’s the case, we need to identify which spores and when they release into the air. And it’s correlation and not causation.”

“You’re so fucking smart,” Cee whispered, brushing his lips against hers, then nipping at her bottom lip.

Sakura smiled against Callum and then deepened the kiss. Yes, she was very smart. It was nice to hear the acknowledgement.
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OoO

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Sasuke

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“And they’ve visited six villages by now,” Naruto said. He paced within Sasuke’s prison cell back in Konoha. “Wow, Sakura-chan says that Cee invited her to stay with him at his apartment when they finally arrive at Cloud.”

“What?” Sasuke hissed. “Can they not supply a Konoha jonin with her own quarters?”

“Oh, well, it’s more that he’s her boyfriend,” Naruto explained. He smiled faintly. “Good for her. She was always so busy mooning over you, she never gave anyone in our village the time of day.” He sighed. “Well, except for me and Kakashi-sensei and Neji.” He sobered quickly. “And now Neji’s gone.”

“I’m right here,” Sasuke said quietly.

“Yeah, well, maybe you shouldn’t have put her in that genjutsu before we went and blew each other’s arms off, you’d have a chance,” Naruto scolded. “She’s loved you since we were kids. The problem is you didn’t reciprocate.”

“Hn,” Sasuke grunted.

“Hey, cheer up. The whole reason Sakura-chan is in Lightning is so that you can be pardoned,” Naruto reminded him. “She’ll always love you. We’ll always love you. Team Seven is a family!”

“Yeah, I guess,” Sasuke huffed, leaning his head against the stones behind him. “

“Speaking of family, — it turns out I’m related to Cee! His real name is Callum Namikaze! Unfortunately, their Raikage does this thing where he renames the shinobi closest to him — their Raikage is always Aye, and of course Bee is Bee, and well Cee, though Darui refused to go by Dee.” Naruto giggled. “Man, those Lightning ninja are weird!”

“So Cee is a Namikaze like your father,” Sasuke realized. If he was blood-kin to the Leaf’s Yondaime Hokage, there was the possibility he might try to transfer. Sakura always let her heart lead her first. Sasuke hadn’t been prepared to be the object of her affection, he still wasn’t ready for something like that, but that didn’t mean he didn’t want Sakura as an option later. She was the only women he even halfway considered. Though he’d treated both her and Karin — the only women he was close to rather poorly. If nothing else, he needed to atone for his own behavior towards them both. He apologized to Sakura, but was it enough? Now she was spending half a year abroad in foreign lands for his sake.

“Can we write her back?” Sasuke asked.

“Um, well, I haven’t exactly learned how to write with my left hand,” Naruto murmured. “And the prosthetic isn’t ready yet.”

“I’m ambidextrous, was ambidextrous,” Sasuke corrected quietly. The Godaime was crafting a prosthetic for both Naruto and himself. He hadn’t decided to accept it or not yet. His obliterated left hand is the same one that tried to kill by Sakura and Naruto. He thought back to the old proverb of his clan. If your hand offends you, strike it off. “I’ll pen the letter.”

“Sure! I’m sure she’ll like that!” Naruto agreed. He bounced onto the balls of his feet. “Well, I’m supposed to meet Iruka for lunch at Ichiraku’s. I better put your blindfold back on. I’ll be back this evening and I’ll bring some paper and pen with me.”

Together, using Naruto’s left hand and Sasuke’s right one, they secured the blindfold back in place. The seals re-activated and once again, Sasuke was surrounded with darkness and silence, with only his own thoughts to haunt him.

Thoughts that now included Sakura dating a fucking Namikaze medic that had never tried to kill her!
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OoO

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Kakashi

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Kakashi leaned closer to the mirror and studied his reflection. Maybe it was related to the new eye that Naruto created for him, or from the time Obito had gifted him the double Mangekyo Sharingan during the war. His vision blurred and it looked like glowing star shaped tears trickled down his cheeks. He turned on the faucet and splashed water onto his face and blinked several times. His vision cleared. Maybe it was a halo? He remembered Tsuande asking him if he saw any halos when she looked him over after the war.

He picked up the white fluffy towel on the vanity and dried his face. On his way back to his bed, he picked up the letter Sakura had sent him. She described the Land of Lightning to him. The way she described it, it sounded like a beautiful mountainous land and not the arid, brutal hell-hole that was Konoha’s enemy for generations.

She wrote about the concern that someone was a Sasori copy-cat, targeting her by attacking civilians in the villages in her travels. She also mentioned a bizarre disease that Cee referred to as Hanahaki disease — the victim suffered from unrequited love and coughed up flower petals until they suffocated. She was determined to prove it was more likely from exposure to a fungal pathogen. All the victims were from the same province which indicated an environmental cause, not an emotional one.

She had suffered unrequited love most of her adolescence, if that disease was legitimate why didn’t she have it? Kakashi rubbed at his sore eyes once again. Likely, if the disease did exist, Sakura’s love was requited. Maybe? He didn’t understand things like love, but he was glad Sakura was excited about her travels.

He thought about the meeting he had in the morning with the Mizukage. Gai unfortunately wouldn’t be able to act as buffer. He was focused on a physical therapy program that Shizune had created for him before they left and wouldn’t be done before Kakashi’s meeting. Though, maybe Kakashi could show up late and wait for Gai?

He rubbed his forehead. He couldn’t risk pissing off Mei. He could blow off her efforts of seduction, but he couldn’t blatantly disrespect her. Sasuke’s life was in the balance and he had to protect his family.

With one final glance towards the letter Sakura sent him, he picked it up and secured it inside a storage scroll. He should probably write her back, but he didn’t know what to say. He was concerned about the possible Sasori copy-cat. He had many things he regretted in life and chasing after Naruto that day when Gaara had been kidnapped, was one of those times when he didn’t have a choice. If Sakura had died, he’d have never forgiven himself. She’d done the impossible — been the first to defeat a member of the Akatsuki.

He knew the bell test he challenged her and Naruto with when they were reunited had given him a glimpse of her progress. He was so damn proud of her! And she was a big part of why he was here right now — in Mist — fending off the amorous attentions of the red-headed kage. He still had a great deal of resentment towards the last Uchiha, but he cared. However, he cared more for Naruto and Sakura. For those two, he would put up with this mission.

He’d just settled into his bed when there was a knock on his bedroom door. Kakashi’s eyes snapped open, recognizing the chakra signature as the Mizukage’s herself. He pulled his shirt back over his head and answered the door, opening it only a few inches. “Lady Mizukage,” Kakashi answered, his voice hoarse from disuse.

Mei smiled, her visible eye scanned his body, head to toe assessing him. “I hope I’m not disturbing you, Hatake.”

“Not at all. How may I help you?” Kakashi asked. His hand was firm on the door, barring entrance.

“May I come in?” Mei asked, cocking her hip to the side.

“I’m afraid my room isn’t fit for company,” Kakashi hedged. “I am happy to schedule to see you in your office in the morning.” With her Anbu and Gai present, he added silently in his head.

“I was hoping for a more personal visit,” Mei pouted.

Kakashi flashed her his fake crescent eye smile. “I’m afraid our meetings must be under strict professional circumstances. By order of the Godaime Tsunade.” He didn’t think Tsunade would mind a tiny fib. He was a war hero after all!

Mei huffed, ruffling her bangs and showing her usually hidden eye. They were a pretty green. But the seemed the wrong shade of green to Kakashi. He felt that weird halo again in his vision, but blinked impassively at the Mizukage.

“Fine. I will see you tomorrow then, Hatake. Sleep well,” Mei started to turn, making sure to sashay her generous curves in her departure. She paused to look at him over her shoulder. “Though, if you would like to meet in an unofficial capacity, just ask my guards. They’ll escort you to my chambers.”

Kakashi said nothing as he firmly shut his door and then set about several traps to secure it from interlopers. His heart was racing at the encounter. Mei obviously wanted to sleep with him, he could take her up on the offer — she was a beautiful, strong woman. But the idea made him feel nauseated. Which was stupid. When he was in Anbu he’d not exactly been picky about his bed partners. Though, pissing off the Mizukage could start an international issue as well as result in one of his little genin being executed.

Kakashi blinked and shook his head until the halo cleared up in his vision. He bit his thumb and summoned two of his ninken to stand as additional guard. Bull plopped himself by the door and Pakkun settled on the extra pillow on the bed. Then Kakashi fell onto the bed next to his best friend and buried his face in his pillow, never noticing the two shimmering tears that fell into the soft material.

Pakkun noticed though and whimpered a little, worried for his Boss.
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OoO

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Sakura

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It had taken a lot of convincing on Sakura’s part to venture into the woods on her own. Both Cee and Dariu had protested, but finally agreed to give her three hours. As a compromise, she left a portion of Lady Katsuyu with Cee and kept another portion tucked inside the inner pockets of her flak jacket. When the tiny scorpion showed up on her windowsill, Sakura knew she had to investigate.

No longer did she think this poisoner was a copy-cat, but the actual Sasori of the Red Sands. He was waiting for her deep within the woods. He was older than she remembered — no longer in the wooden body of a teenager, but a grown man — likely Kakashi’s age, or maybe a little older. His crimson hair was as vibrant as his doll’s had been, but his eyes were amber with black sclera.

Sasori was Edo Tensei — meaning he was immortal and there was no way to defeat him in battle. He’d escaped the control of his summoner and she’d have to use reason and logic with him. Or maybe she could appeal to his heart like their first encounter.

“Sasori,” Sakura greeted, nodding her head politely. “I’ve been receiving your gifts. Please stop.”

He cocked his head to the side, his amber gaze studied her intensely, lingering on her forehead and the diamond-shaped seal. “I just wanted to gage your abilities. I have no interest in further victims. There is no profit in it. You’ve grown stronger. You have the same power as the Senju woman.”

Sakura would ignore that warm ball of pleasure in her belly at being praised by this man— creature. He certainly looked better in his normal form rather than the terrifying puppet. He was the first opponent to ever truly acknowledge her. “I unlocked it during the last battle of the war.”

“I had sensed you weren’t fighting at your full capacity even then,” Sasori mused. He rubbed his jaw, his eyes never leaving hers. “Why are you in Lightning? Did you not find the boy that Orochimaru stole?”

“Ah, Kabuto was a double agent,” Sakura answered. “We did eventually find Sasuke. He joined us in the final battle against Akatsuki.”

“Indeed. That was a strange battle — resurrected enemies and friends alike, gods and goddesses, a tree that consumed all life,” Sasori mused. “I plan to return to Suna. Offer my services.” He smiled slowly, his teeth were perfectly even. “Atone for my sins, if you will.”

“You’re a mass murderer,” Sakura hissed. Her hands clenched into fists at her side. Maybe she could obliterate his body. Would he reform? “If I hadn’t been here, your little game with the poisons would have killed a dozen people!”

“But you were here,” Sasori countered. “And I cannot be killed. And we are all shinobi — murder is our trade.” He looked past her briefly and then focused his inhuman gaze upon her once more. “If you wish to end me, you must use the Reaper Death curse, but it would kill us both. I do not wish for you to die. I wish to continue to observe your story.” He shrugged. “I am fascinated.” He held his hands up placatingly. “I will leave you no more gifts.” He bowed briefly and then vanished.

Sakura stood frozen, her senses on high alert and then a moment later, both Cee and Darui were at her side. Darui landed where Sasori had been seconds ago, swinging his sword into empty air.

“He said he will stop,” Sakura said, dazed.

“Not much we can do against the undead,” Cee murmured, frowning. He ran his hand through his blond hair in frustration before gripping Sakura’s shoulders and looking her up and down with a medic’s attention. “You’re uninjured?”

“Yes, he didn’t harm me,” Sakura answered, nodding. “We need to let the Kazekage know though.”

“Of course,” Cee agreed, breathing a sigh of relief. “Let’s head back. Have some breakfast. Then we start for Kinoko province and you can see if your theory is right.” He brushed his hand over the length of her hair. “And by this time next week, we’ll be home in Kumo. I can’t wait to show you the village!”

Sakura smiled faintly at his enthusiasm. Her heart was still racing from facing a ghost of her past. She rubbed her hand over the side of her abdomen, scarred from a scorpion’s sword years ago.

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Chapter Text

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Sakura
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They were in the last stop of the itinerary before the trek back to Komogakure. This particular village was where Cee — Callum— grew up. It was the same village where the Yondaime Minato Namikaze’s parents hailed from as well. It was a peaceful, close-knit community that welcomed Cee into their fold like he was their long-lost prince.

Darui also received a warm welcome, his previous visits to the area with Cee blatantly obvious with the villagers’ familiarity with the swordsman. Though, with Sakura, the Namikaze regarded her warily. She was a war hero and her reputation as a renown medic led to a favorable reception. However, Cee’s family was also wary of her, noticing the lingering looks she and Cee didn’t bother to hide. His mother in particular was worried.

Later on their second evening, Sakura and Cee stood on a bridge that arched over a large koi pond where the purple flowers of a wisteria tree cascaded around them from overhead. The full moon reflected upon the water, causing the koi’s bright scales to glimmer in the darkness.

Sakura leaned back against Cee’s lean frame, enjoying the feel of his toned arms secured around her waist, his palms splayed over her belly with the warmth soaking through the thin material of her shirt.

“This is a beautiful place. You grew up in this village?” Sakura asked, inhaling the fresh floral aroma with a gentle sigh.

“Indeed. The large assortment of herbs played no small role in my decision to study medicine,” Cee answered. “I want to apologize for my mother.”

“Oh,” Sakura whispered. His mother had been polite, yet guarded. She couldn’t blame the woman. “It’s okay. I’d likely behave the same way if my precious son came home to visit with a strange woman from another nation.” Her smile was melancholy. “No one wants their child to be a star-crossed lover.”

Cee was silent for several moments, the sound of the cicada chirping around them. “I realize I’m ten years older than you and ready to settle down, Sakura. This is your first adult relationship,” Cee murmured, pressing his cheek against hers, his blond wispy hair tickled her ear. “I know it’s much too soon, but I’m very serious about you— about us, Sakura. Even if it’s long distance, I’d like to try and make this situation work between us.” He stroked his hand over the length of her hair. “We don’t have to be star-crossed.”

She would return to Konoha in four and a half months. She was on this mission to encourage a good relationship between Konoha and Komo. She needed to forge a strong bond that would help the Raikage and his people to agree to be lenient on Sasuke. He’s saved the world, but he’d endangered them as well. And no one, but Sakura, Naruto and Kakashi would know exactly what all Saske had done in the end. It had been a tacit agreement between the three that they would take that knowledge to their graves. Sasuke reluctantly agreed since the alternative would likely lead to his execution and that would punish the three of them that would be forced to live with the loss more than him.

This medical goodwill mission was to help her teammate. He would need the ability to travel between the different nations of the continent to search for clues of the aliens. They may have defeated the Rabbit goddess, but that didn’t mean they were safe from others of her kind. This was not a vacation to have her first experience with love.

Though, Sakura had to admit, she was enjoying experiencing what it was like to have someone snuggle against her, compliment her, and appreciate her not only as a shinobi and medic, but also as a woman. Everything was simply so easy with Cee.

“I’ve enjoyed our time together, Callum,” Sakura murmured. “I’m already anxious about when I return home. It all feels so easy right now.”

“Let’s not worry about it too much just yet,” Cee countered. “I just want you to realize that to me — you are worth all the effort.” He shifted her hair to one side and then kissed the base of her neck, his lips surprisingly soft against her flesh.

Sakura shivered against the gentle touch. She finally understood what Ino tried to convey to her about her experiences with men and women over the past year. While Sakura felt her friend was too generous with her feelings, she felt grateful that her own first experiences with a two-sided relationship were with a considerate man like Cee. Otherwise, her taste in men tended to lean towards one-sided crushes.

She thought briefly of her teammates — Naruto’s crush on her was truly over and they were better friends without that additional awkwardness. Honestly, he was probably her best friend. Then there was Sasuke — finally back into their fold, but they’d tried to kill each other and he left her to die several times when they did finally team up again. She wasn’t blind to the shift in how he viewed her when she and Obito saved him from that desert planet. Then he’d placed her in that genjutsu so he could battle Naruto in a goal to eradicate their continent’s leadership. The dream left her confused — it was a version of their world where Sasuke’s family had lived. In that reality, the two of them had been childhood sweethearts and his family had taken a special interest in both her and Naruto and trained them together. Though, in that world, there’s been no Tsunade Senju to train Sakura and she’d not truly been herself.

Maybe in his mind that was a perfect world, but it wasn’t perfect for Sakura.

Thoughts of another teammate lurked in the recesses of her mind more often than not though. Team Seven’s leader — Kakashi Hatake, the heir apparent to the seat of Hokage. She wouldn’t say her opinion of him was too favorable until after their team reformed. It became clear that he had also trained in the interlude. He hadn’t been cruel to her when she’d been a genin on his team, but he’d been patronizing — patting her head like a puppy and offering false reassurances that he’d take care of everything for her. She wanted to be able to take care of things herself, she wasn’t asked to be coddled. Though, she recognized the signs in retrospect — the man was clinically depressed. He only came alive on the battlefield.

There were so many times that he’d saved her — from Sasuke and Naruto on the hospital rooftop, from Sasuke’s chidori when she couldn’t fulfill her mission to stab him with her poisoned kunai, from falling into a pit of lava when they fought a goddess. And then, when she awoke from that genjutsu of Sasuke’s, Kakashi had been right there. His strong arms helped her sit up and together they supported one another in the journey to the battle of the reincarnated souls of Ashura and Indra.

Even now, it was her and Kakashi that were doing all they could to try and keep their wayward Uchiha safe. Sakura’s type was the self-sacrificing hero type.

“Where has your mind gone?” Cee asked quietly, his tenor rumbling in the stillness of the night.

“Just worrying about my friends,” Sakura admitted. She kept her thoughts on her preferred love interests to herself. There was no need to make things awkward between her and her new boyfriend.

“I know you’ve been writing to your Hokage, but you can write to your friends too. I can include them in the missive reports we send to Lady Tsunade in Konoha. I’m afraid the falcons cannot travel to unknown places reliably. We don’t have a connection into Mist at present,” Cee explained.

That secure lettering path existed because of the reparations from Cloud’s failed attempt to steal away Hinata Hyuga fifteen years prior.

“I am not so greedy as to keep you only to myself, Sakura,” Cee mused. He stepped back and with his calloused hand traced over her forearm until he took her hand in his, whirling Sakura to face him. His dark eyes seemed to twinkle under the light of the moon and a soft smile crossed his lips. “I’m going to kiss you now, is that alright?”

Sakura smiled back and threaded their fingers together, and her other palm laid flat over his chest, feeling the nervous rhythm of his heart. She nodded and the butterflies fluttered in her belly at the way Cee’s cheeks darkened as he dipped his head towards her. His nose nudged against hers playfully before soft lips found hers. They weren’t chapped like most shinobi — not surprising considering Cee was a medic and understood to care for his body. His free hand cradled the back of her head, fingers carded within her loose hair. Their joined hands squeezed gently as he nipped at her lips thrice before his tongue traced across the seam.

Sakura sighed against him and felt the warm, weight of his tongue slip into her mouth. She moved her hand from over his heart to grip the back of his shoulder, pressing their bodies closer and could feel the hard length of his enthusiasm growing against her belly.

Cee gasped and pulled back, his cheeks flushed. “Sorry, guess I’m a little too excited.” He shifted his body away from hers, but still held her in an embrace, his forehead pressed against hers.

“It’s okay. It’s nice knowing you’re actually attracted to me,” Sakura admitted, biting her lower lip and grateful he didn’t have some super sense of smell. Hopefully he wasn’t aware of just how damp her panties were— something that Kakashi and Naruto would have noticed. “I’m hoping we can explore that part of this relationship too.” She pulled him back towards hers and pressed her lips against his once more. Then she stepped back, holding his hand and turned facing towards the pond once more. “Though probably not a great idea to do much more with all your family nearby.”

Cee chuckled and raised their joined hands to kiss the back of her knuckles. Then he released his grip to wind his arm around her waist and hold her against his side. “We’re going to be sharing my apartment for several months. We can pick up supplies and talk about boundaries later. I have no intention of trapping you into a marriage, Sakura. Not every adult relationship has to be the person you intend to spend your whole life with. As shinobi and as medics, we are more aware than most how fleeting our time on earth actually is.” He pressed another kiss to the crown of her head. “Though, if we conceive a child together, you’ll never get rid of me, so until we decide on our long-term goals, we’ll use protection.”

Sakura wanted to be a mother one day, many years in the future. She was quite versed in contraceptive methods. This was a mission of goodwill, not to find herself a husband. Though, glancing at Callum’s profile, he would be a pretty fine partner.

And yet, as Cee held her, secure against his side, she couldn’t help, but think about another pair of dark thunderstorm grey eyes, a shock of soft silver hair, and a body littered with scars. How was Kakashi doing in Mist?
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OoO

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Sakura
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Passing through the gates of Kumogakure, Cee, Darui and Sakura reported into the Raikage’s office, met with Aye. She noted his missing arm. Sasuke really did some damage and picked a man with a foul temper to make a grudge.

Cee and Sakura walked side by side to his apartment complex, taking their time while he pointed out various shops and vendors along the streets. He lived equidistance from the Raikage’s tower and the hospital.

As they paused outside a particularly tall apartment complex, Cee turned towards her. “I’m on the top floor. So we can take eight flights of stairs or we can chakra walk up the side of the building. My preference is the latter.”

“Same,” Sakura answered with a laugh.

“Let’s go,” Cee said, starting the walk up. Sakura followed alongside him and they eventually landed on his balcony. Cee laid his arm across Sakura’s shoulders and used his free hand to point towards the view of the mountains. “It’s a bit of a climb after a long shift at the hospital, but the view is worth it.”

Sakura sighed and relaxed against Cee’s sturdy frame as she watched a flock of dark birds in the sky flying in the direction of the mountains. The air was crisp and the scene was lovely. “It’s nice.”

Cee pressed a kiss to her temple and then turned to the door and began a series of signs to unlock his door. Sakura politely looked away while he released the various traps of his alarm system. “My brother preferred to use the front door. We used to have a functioning elevator before the war, maybe I’ll see if I can repair it. Most of Kumo’s engineers are civilians and they were put to work elsewhere under the Raikage’s orders.”

“I’m sure your neighbors would appreciate that,” Sakura assured him. Cee led her on a tour of his apartment. It was about average size with two bedrooms, one bath, a modest kitchen and a small den with a single sofa. She’d be staying in the guest room with the dove gray comforter and eastern facing window. It also had a nice desk and walk-in closet. The two bedrooms shared the same bathroom - a Jack and Jill combination. In the den a flat-screened television hung on the wall and two bookcases completely loaded with Medical, Botany, Chemistry and Engineering books.

Cee dropped his pack on the floor and opened the top. He pulled out a scroll and within was stored a couple of books about prosthetics. “The Raikage will be more lenient with your teammate if we can come up with a functioning hand to replace his impairment.” He winked at her. “That could be our project, could help your friends too.”

Sakura grimaced, thinking of the Raikage’s missing limb. Ironically, it was the same arm that Sasuke was now missing. Some of the same concerns about channeling Lightning would need to be addressed. She forced a smile, hoping Cee missed the grimace. “I look forward to brainstorming with you.”

It wasn’t often she was given an opportunity to brainstorm with a worthy partner.

“You can have the shower first,” Cee offered. “I’ll make some relaxing tea for you. Maybe we can watch a movie together afterwards?”

“Sure, I’d like that,” Sakura answered. She settled her things inside the guest bedroom and then enjoyed a nice warm shower. She chose to use Cee’s soap and shampoo - enjoying the scent of crisp mountain air and cedar. With the bedrooms adjoined by the bath, it would easily lead to reduced privacy, but wasn’t that fine? She was a little disappointed by the lack of bathtub, but that wasn’t unusual. Water was a precious resource and long, luxurious baths wasn’t something too many shinobi liked to indulge.

Sakura toweled off and then slipped on a pair of short-shorts and a cami shirt. She studied her image in the vanity mirror and felt her cheeks burn as the form-fitting top left little to the imagination, the outline of her nipples would hopefully tempt Callum with some activities Sakura was eager to explore.

She brushed her teeth and then walked back to her bedroom and then the den. She found Cee had set up a tray on the small coffee table in front of the sofa. His eyes widened as he scanned her head to toe, lingering on her chest with a small smile. He moved to stand in front of her, hands on her shoulders as he looked down at her. “You clean up nice, Haruno,” he teased. He kissed her cheek and then whispered in her ear, his breath warm against her flesh. “We’ll finally have some privacy and we’re free tomorrow, so we can take our time getting truly acquainted.”

Sakura felt goosebumps form along her bare arms. While Cee took his turn in the shower, she sat with her legs curled under her on his sofa. She wasn’t sure if she should turn on the television and she just brushed her teeth, so she didn’t really want to drink tea at the moment. She helped herself to a glass of cold tap water instead and then opened up one of the new prosthetic books Cee brought home.

It wasn’t too much time until Cee walked back out to join her, wearing a pair of dark gray sweatpants low on his hips, a golden happy trail peaking out between his navel and the waistline. His hair looked darker now that it was damp and he smiled shyly as he sat next to her on the couch. He took the book from her hands and set it aside on the coffee table.

“We’ll have time for our project later,” Cee murmured. He turned towards her and ran his hand from her ankle up to her thigh. “Um, would you like to sit on my lap? I’d like to kiss you.”

“Yeah,” Sakura huffed with a nervous chuckle. She shifted to straddle Cee, her thighs on either side of his hips and her hands splayed over his belly, her thumbs traced up and down along the soft, golden hairs.

Cee shuddered a breath and placed his hands around her ribs, his thumbs brushed the underside of her breasts before he leaned forward to kiss her.

Sakura allowed herself to fall into the kiss, noting the faint mint taste in his mouth. He must have brushed his teeth as well. She appreciated the effort and moaned against him as she felt her nipples harden under his attention. She released his waist and gripped the back of his hands and pulled his hands higher until he was cupping her breasts. Cee paused for a moment, dark eyes stared into hers in uncertainty until Sakura arched against him.

Then Cee began to knead her flesh.

All sense of time was muddled and they were both panting, breathless.

“Let’s take this to the bedroom,” Cee suggested. “How far do you want to go?” He cleared his throat and swallowed thickly. “Better tell me now before I lose my ability to think.” He smiled faintly.

“I want to spend the night in your bed,” Sakura answered. “I want to know just how well your cock can fill me and how many times you can make me come.”

Cee smirked. “Well, you and I both understand the human body better than most as medics. And you’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever met — inside and out, so I’m eager to make you feel good.”

“And we have all day tomorrow off?” Sakura added.

“We have all night and all day tomorrow,” Cee agreed.

“Then take me to your bed, Callum,” Sakura said determinedly.

The smile he flashed her was so bright it made her heart stutter. “Yes, ma’am.”
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OoO

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Kakashi
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He rubbed at his eyes once more, his vision blurry before it cleared. It must have been his imagination, but it seemed as if something glittered on his hands for a moment.

He read over the letter that Godaime Tsunade had sent him — one official word about timeline for his promotion and goals to work towards in Mist and the second was from Sakura and was of a personal nature. He skimmed over the official missive when he realized what the second letter was and read Sakura’s letter immediately.

He appreciated the familiar scrawl of his long-time teammate. It was moments like this that he missed the Sharingan. He couldn’t take a mental picture of the letter, but his mind was skilled enough at memorizing and he still committed the words to memory.

Kakashi,

I hesitate to add the honorific, not quite sure how to think of you these days. You were briefly my sensei, certainly my captain, but more importantly my friend. I cannot help but think back to when you assured me everything would be alright on that hospital rooftop, when my life had been a moment away from being obliterated. I had no idea at the time how close to death I truly was, yet you appeared so calm as you reassured me having tossed our more volatile teammates into a couple of water towers. As my old hitai-ate was melted into a lake of lava, you caught me and kept me from sharing a similar fate with your fast reflexes and diligence.

All this to say, we are in similar situations now, fostering good will between our village and these less than favorable alliances for the sake of our brooding teammate. It’s been very interesting visiting this foreign country and learning about how different the customs are here. We’ve certainly been spoiled by Master Tsunade’s medical skills. My escort and I have been able to educate so many of the rural healers and now we’re working on the hospital itself within the hidden village. I’m not sure if I’ve ever worked with someone who’s mind and goals are so similar to my own. It’s exciting and part of me is toying with the idea of extending my stay. I’m forging such strong bonds here.

I’m sure you heard about my run in with a certain Edo Tensei from Master Tsunade. There was also this ridiculous disease called Hanahaki disease. The symptoms are someone choking on the flowers of a blooming plant within their lungs unless they admit their love for someone and the only cure is if that love is reciprocated. Can you imagine such a ridiculous disease? It was simply a series of connected circumstances — not causative. Most victims were of the age where they would be looking for love and worked within more dangerous environments — once again due to their age and physical pique. It was in actuality from exposure to spores from a fungus in rural areas where the local healer tended towards folk remedies rather than science.

I wonder if you might be able to visit Lightning at some point. So many of the shinobi here are Lightning users and I’m sure that it would be a good environment for you to figure out a way to change the fundamentals of your chidori to some other technique. Though, I can definitely understand not wanting to show a technique to a land that was so recently our enemy. Both Master Tsunade and Cee have Lightning affinity and utilize it during surgeries. I think they’d both be safe people to brainstorm with. I won’t be able to master the element myself, but I’m learning about it regardless. Maybe my research will help you! Right now, I’m trying to learn how it might affect the use of a prosthetic limb.

How are things with the Mizukage? My source in the Intelligence Division, a.k.a. Ino Yamanaka, suspects she has ulterior motives for accepting you as representative of our village. You are of marriage age and you certainly deserve someone strong, intelligent, and beautiful to be your partner. I can’t really think of anyone that could compete with someone like that. Sorry, I know we don’t really talk about personal relationships. I sometimes wonder if you prefer a certain orange-covered book series to actual relationships. It’s just, I have a boyfriend — not a crush, but an actual partner. I didn’t realize how nice it is to come home to someone that wants to know about your day, wants to discuss and brainstorm about a problem, share meals together and simply hold you.

It’s just, it’s nice. And you’ve been through so much and I really hope you allow yourself to find a domestic partner. Though, maybe you already have such a relationship and you’re a private person. I consider you one of my closest friends, one of my precious people, especially after the war and everything we went through.

I don’t expect you to write back, but it would be nice. Oh! I did read through the Icha Icha series. My boyfriend has a copy of the books and convinced me that it’s not porn, but a fantasy romance adventure series. And I understand now why you enjoy it so much. It’s hard for me to reconcile something this well written was created by the Pervy-Sage— Naruto’s words, not mine. Maybe we can talk about it sometime?

Your friend, Sakura.

Kakashi stared at the letter a bit longer, his vision blurring again. Had anyone written him a personal letter before? He had his share of love notes when he’d been a kid that he’d ignored quite vehemently. There had been countless mission scrolls. He and Jiraiya had exchanged letters in regards to Naruto’s training and brainstorming about Fuinjutsu techniques. He blinked and waited for his vision to clear. This was his first and only actual personal letter.

He liked it. Though, he was a bit irritated at the same time. His little Sakura had a boyfriend? Who was this boy taking advantage of Sakura’s loneliness and lack of protectors? Had he been properly vetted? Were they just holding hands and being sweet? Or had whomever this boyfriend was taken certain liberties? It sounded like they were living together. He knew Sakura was a legal adult, but he didn’t like knowing she had a boyfriend outside of the Leaf and whom he wasn’t able to personally watch.

There had been several would-be suiters for his little kunoichi — as Zabuza’s Edo Tensei referred to her and frankly Kakashi felt that way himself to an extent. So many shinobi Sakura patched up at the hospital would then try to ask her out, but Kakashi usually was able to keep them from pestering her. He would just happen to come across them on the streets of Konoha, bouquet of flowers and box of sweets in hand. He’d interrogate them and upon realizing their intention, he’d convince them to offer their gifts simply as that — gifts of appreciation. He wasn’t a heartless man, he wanted Sakura to see options outside of her childhood crush. He advised those would-be suiters that if they spotted Sakura outside of the hospital, like a bar or a restaurant with friends — that would be an acceptable environment to ask her out, but not at the hospital or training grounds. They were not to distract her from her career goals.

Was it Kakashi’s fault that Sakura spent all her time at the hospital, training grounds or Hokage office? And that when she was out with friends — either he or Naruto were present and any would-be potential boyfriends would be intimidated and scamper off? Sakura didn’t need a coward for a partner. And yet, here she was playing house with a boyfriend that Kakashi hadn’t approved.

As he contemplated what to write back, there was a knock at his door. Gai’s loud voice called out, reminding him of their sparring session with the Mizukage. With a weary sigh, Kakashi rubbed at his eyes once more. Maybe he’d write to Sakura about his vision, ask her to run a diagnostic.

He was worried about Sakura, but maybe, he could admit at least to himself, he was jealous as well.
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Chapter Text

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Sakura
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The operating room was absolutely silent, the only sound was the soft click of the surgical equipment when the nurse set it on the tray after Cee handed it back to her.

Both Sakura and Cee utilized chakra scalpels at different times during surgical procedures, but it was still standard to utilize the sterilized medical instruments made of steel when possible. You never knew when you needed every ounce of chakra available to mitigate a difficult to treat injury. That ability to manipulate chakra, encourage the body’s own immune system to repair itself and for organs and blood cells to replicate within boundaries was what set medical ninja apart from civilian practitioners.

“It’s been a while since I’ve had to deal with gallstones,” Cee mused, breaking the silence as they began the wrap up process. “The typical shinobi diet and rural villages don’t usually have cholesterol issues.”

Sakura pursed her lips behind her surgical mask. It was true, shinobi and those that lived in the smaller villages had more vegetables and lean meats in their diets than the aristocracy. Their current patient was the Lightning Daimyo’s nephew. She held the engorged gallbladder with a pair of forceps and laid it out on a dissecting tray. She used a chakra scalpel to slice the organ and a dozen dark green stones peeked out. “It’s almost pretty.”

Cee grimaced. “Yikes. He’ll need to abstain from alcohol from now on.” He finished sealing up the wound, knitting the flesh back with chakra rather than the typical cat gut sutures. The daimyo’s family expected ninja magic, not sutures like a regular civilian doctor would utilize.

Sakura finished evaluating the gallbladder and once she confirmed it was simply gallstones and not cancer, she returned to the patient to help Cee. The man’s liver wasn’t cirrhotic, but it had did have a moderate amount of fatty infiltration. Hopefully, this gallbladder incident would encourage him to take better care of himself.

Sakura and Cee finished up and then stepped back from the patient so the rest of the staff could clean up and transport the patient to the recovery room. The two surgeons stood in front of the scrub in sink and started to wash. “I like to think gallstones are a bit like pearls in an oyster,” Cee said with a frown. “All oysters are capable of making a pearl, but it’s not common.”

“That’s a great analogy,” Sakura admitted. She glanced over at her boyfriend and they exchanged eye-smiles, their mouths hidden behind their surgical masks. For a moment she thought about her old team captain. How was Kakashi? He’d never written her back, not that she expected him to. That wasn’t really his style. If it wasn’t a mission request or the Icha Icha series he probably wouldn’t even bother to read anything else. “So, you want to hit the training ground after this?”

“Um, how about we take it easy. This was a pretty labor-intensive surgery, Sakura. Let’s have a nice dinner and rest this evening. Maybe we can watch that drama series with the apothecary and the prince in disguise?”

She nodded. “Okay, sure.” Dinner and a relaxing evening watching television would be nice too. “That sounds good.” She tried to sound a little more excited about the date. “Maybe we can visit the tavern again? I overheard the nurse mention there would be a band playing.”

Cee opened the door leading out of the operating room and held it for Sakura to follow. Then he tossed his mask into the trash bin. “I’ll send a genin to make a reservation for us.”

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An hour later, the two medical ninja were settled into a back booth at one of the village’s taverns— the one that boasted of a live band twice per week. Sakura still hadn’t quite become accustomed to the music in Cloud — rapping seemed to be a highly popular form of entertainment. Cee had left Sakura to use the restroom and she took that time to read the letter from home she received at the reception desk at the hospital when she clocked out. Ino had been writing her at least once a week since she arrived in Cloud. Sakura was eager to read about the latest village gossip. They’d also been brain storming about their pediatric mental health clinic idea.

Sakura almost choked on her wine when she realized whom the letter was from — she’d mistakenly assumed it would be from Ino. However, the authors were Naruto and Sasuke. It was obviously written by Sasuke since it was legible. He’d always been ambidextrous and they had shared notes together back at the Academy, so she recognized his neat, precise script. While she could admit in hindsight she’d made him uncomfortable with her school-girl crush, when she was in academic mode she hardly flirted with him and they actually got along quite well during those times.

She thought again once more to the canyon, Sasuke and Naruto bleeding out after maiming each other as she kept the two of them from dying. Their sheepish apologies to her had frustrated her, gone were the hot-headed boys that could never be reasoned with. Finally, her boys were both present — and she saved their lives — again. She knew that Sasuke’s apology especially was a loaded one. There were so many times they’d wronged one another, almost killed each other, and she was fresh off the genjutsu he’d trapped her within.

Sakura,

This is a joint letter from Naruto and myself. Obviously, he wants to ask you about the ramen in Lightning because he only knows how to think with his stomach. And to say the prosthetic arms aren’t completed. I haven’t decided whether or not I should take a prosthetic. One, it might interfere with my Lightning chakra and two, it’s the hand that almost killed two of my precious people- more than once. Maybe my hand’s absence will serve as a reminder for how far I fell into darkness. And, it’s also the same arm that I destroyed of the kage of your current position. Perhaps my having the same handicap will lead him to feel more lenient. Your absence is keenly felt by both of us.

About the scorpion problem…I have offered to the Kazekage my services to obliterate him once and for all. My eternal fire technique — Amaterasu — is capable. I was with Itachi when he defeated Kabuto and ended the Edo Tensei for the other summons. One that is well versed in the Edo Tensei themselves, would be capable of prolonging their own existence and since the puppet problem was partnered with Orochimaru, it makes sense that he has stuck around. Gaara is considering his options. Though, that pest shouldn’t bother you any more.

Naruto also tells me that you’ve formed an attachment to the Cloud medic in charge of your welfare. I understand that I am not worthy of your affections after everything I have done. I consider you one of my precious people and you deserve joy after everything I put you through. I think if our reality had been different, we could have worked well together. I shared with you my ideal world when I placed you under that genjutsu. I have to learn to live with myself, atone for my wrongs. It would be selfish of me to expect you to wait. Be happy, Sakura, but please, don’t forget about me.

Also, Naruto is very excited about the connection you found between him and your escort. When you return home, I hope we can share stories about our adventures abroad. Because Konoha is your home, Sakura. It’s not home here without you.

Your friends, Sasuke and the Loud-Mouthed Idiot.

“Good news from home?” Cee asked, sitting across from her at their table. The server seemed to materialize the moment Cee settled and brought the tray with their food, leaving moments later after topping off their waters and moving to the next table. The music from the band made it a little difficult to hear

“Just an update with a couple of friends,” Sakura answered before taking a bit into the crispy pastry full of vegetables and curry. Many of the foods of Cloud weren’t easy to tolerate due to their spices, but this curry puff was her absolute favorite. Cee had given her a copy of his family’s recipe so she’d made it for dinner a few times. However, the pastry in this particular tavern was indescribably good.

Cee chuckled. “You really love that puff,” he mused. He leaned his elbow on the table and rested his chin on the heel of his hand. “So, you still don’t think Hanahaki is real?”

Sakura frowned thoughtfully as she mulled over the two patients they treated earlier that month. Just like the others, those patients had been exposed to spores in a damp environment. One of the patients had also expressed their long-time love interest had died recently. Sakura had been unable to improve their vitals and within two weeks — they had perished. Their autopsy report had come in earlier that day and she and Cee had poured over it. The medical examiner had labeled cause of death Hanahaki.

“Hear me out — suspend your disbelief, Cookie-Pookie,” Cee started. Sakura’s hands clenched into fists under the table and her knuckles cracked ominously as her eyebrow twitched at the awful endearment. He boyfriend was trying out different nicknames, trying to find one that fit. Pookie sounded like the name for a dog. And Cookie was what he called her cunt. Noticing her irritation, Cee grimaced. “No good, huh? Sorry. I’ll try again later.” He smiled nervously. “I’ll make it up to you later tonight.”

“I’ll hold you to that,” Sakura smirked.

Cee’s cheeks darkened and he cleared his throat. “So, what if Hanahaki was indeed also linked to one’s need for dopamine and oxytocin that was often affiliated with a lover’s relationship.”

“I see,” Sakura mused. “And maybe their immune system was compromised by the fungal infection and that what they’d truly died of was Takotsubo cardiomyopathy.”

“Broken Heart syndrome,” Cee agreed with a nod. “The myth and the science are both right.” He drained his water and then dabbed his napkin over his mouth. “I suggest to boost our immune system we have sex at least twice tonight.”

Sakura took another bite of her pastry and nodded. “For our health.”
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OoO

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Kakashi
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Sitting in Hokage’s office, idly reading his Icha Icha book while Tsunade grumbled reading over a letter, Kakashi tried to maintain his nonchalant attitude.

It doesn’t last very long, especially when Tsunade barked with laughter.

“Can you believe that goody-two-shoes apprentice of mine?” Tsunade scoffed. "Sakura has the audacity to request extending her time in Kumo another two months!”

Kakashi snapped shut his book and tucked it into the front pocket of his flak jacket. Tsunade had his full attention as he stared straight at her silently.

“I’ve already had my best surgeon in Lightning for the last several months because of that dark-haired brooding student of yours,” Tsunade continued. “It’s probably good for her that she’s found herself a boyfriend to distract herself from the Uchiha.” She drummed her neatly manicured fingers impatiently over her desktop. She stared back at Kakashi. “You’re due to be promoted to hokage in the next few weeks. Would you be okay approving her extension?”

“No,” Kakashi’s answer was a deep rumble. He wanted her home weeks ago.

“We do need the Raikage to sign off on the pardon,” Tsunade mused. “How else might I do that?” She arched her golden eyebrows and smirked. “Any suggestions? You managed to convince the Mizukage.”

Kakashi couldn’t help but think over the last letter Sakura wrote him and her comments about this boyfriend of hers. “Sakura is too attached to the Cloud medic.” He leaned forward, bracing his hands over the edge of the Hokage desk. “She’s cohabitating with him.”

Tsunade started to laugh. “Good for her! She’s a bit of a late bloomer, but knowing her, she’ll have that man proclaiming his love and asking permission to marry her. A political union between my apprentice and one of Cloud’s top shinobi — a relative of our very own Minato Namikaze would be hard to pass up.”

“Sakura is eighteen. Let’s not get ahead of ourselves.” Kakashi’s jaw ached from the intensity he grit his back molars. “As future hokage, I feel such a match would be short-sighted. Naruto and I will travel to Cloud. We’ll escort Sakura home,” Kakashi suggested. “Killer Bee and Naruto have a strong bond. Lord Aye won’t refuse a visit, especially with my upcoming promotion. It would behoove him to foster goodwill with Konoha’s future Sixth and Seventh Hokages.”

Kakashi did not want Sakura to spend a moment longer than the original agreed upon six months at the start of the mission. He’d toss her over his shoulder and carry her home if he had to.

Tsunade braced her forearms over the desk and leaned towards him, a twinkle in her golden eyes. “And here I thought you were feeling jealous that my beloved apprentice was involved with a man outside of your team.” She grinned deviously. “We’ve got a pool, you know? My staff and my bodyguards.”

“Do I want to know about this pool of yours?” Kakashi narrowed his eyes. Tsunade was a renown gambler and she was notoriously bad at it. “Never mind, I don’t want to know. You’ve indulged Sakura long enough, Lady Tsunade,” Kakashi rumbled. “This fling of hers needs to come to an end. There’s no future in it.” He folded his arms over his chest. “I would never approve of such a match between our strongest kunoichi and one of the Raikage’s advisors.”

“What if that’s what it takes to gain the Raikage’s acceptance?” Tsunade challenged. “Political marriages happen all the time. Sakura is from a civilian family, so the clan heads won’t mind.”

“She’s too young to be in talks of marriage,” Kakashi protested. “And I can say with confidence the Hatake, Uzumaki and Uchiha clans would be against such a match.”

Tsunade laughed again. “Arranged marriages happen at even younger ages,” she countered. “I would expect an explosion like this from the Uzumaki brat, but I’m surprised at you, Kakashi. Just what happened while the rest of us were sleeping?”

“Permission for Naruto and I to retrieve Sakura?” Kakashi asked, ignoring the last question.

“Fine. She will complete the original six months I agreed to at the beginning. You and Naruto can escort her back,” Tsunade said. “I’ll let the Raikage know.”

Kakashi stood and dipped his head in a modest show of respect. “We’ll leave tomorrow.”
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OoO

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Sakura
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She traced her finger over the fine blond hairs of Callum’s belly. Their legs were tangled in the sheets and bodies slicked with sweat as the early morning light filtered into the bedroom past the curtains. She felt absolutely euphoric after their love making and he promised never to call her Pookie or Cookie ever again.

Her boyfriend was a generous lover and he was sweet. Callus was such a stark contrast to the other men in her life. He was usually always calm, even during a surgical crises, he kept his emotions in check. She rarely saw him irritated, even whenever Darui challenged him to a spar. He even handled Bee’s raps with a certain grace that Sakura couldn’t even fake. Her eyebrow twitched just thinking of the Cloud jinchuriki. The Kumo shinobi had questionable taste when it came to music.

“Any news on the extension?” Cee asked, carding his fingers through the length of her hair. “I brought up the idea to Lord Aye.” He sighed, his warm breath tickled across her bare shoulder. “About me going with you to Konoha to see how the hospital ran there, but he rejected the idea. I can probably request a leave of absence. It’s been years since I took any substantial time off. I could request a visa through the Daimyo, if Lord Aye continues to refuse.”

“I don’t want you to get in trouble,” Sakura worried. She didn’t want Cee to risk angering his volatile kage or calling any unwanted attention to his clan. Her time in Cloud with Cee had been nothing short of glorious. However, she had a hard time wrapping her mind around the idea of Cee with her in Konoha. How would that look? She knew that Shikamaru and Temari were exploring their options for a serious relationship. Konoha and Suna had a much different relationship that Konoha and Kumo though. “I should hear back from Master Tsunade whether my extension is approved within the next day or two.”

“I know you have to go back eventually.” Cee wound his arm around her waist and squeezed her against him. “I don’t want you to leave,” he murmured petulantly. “I still can’t believe people in the Leaf weren’t tripping over themselves to woo you.”

“My teammates and Master Tsunade are a bit intimidating,” Sakura mused. She herself had scared off a few potential suitors with her bouts of temper — particularly when she dealt with Naruto or Sai being stupid idiots.

Callum pressed a kiss to her temple. “Well, let’s not worry about the future when we can be enjoying our present.”

“Weren’t we supposed to spar together this morning?” Sakura asked, letting her muscles relax and snuggling against her boyfriend. “I want to burn off some of this pent up energy.”

“Oh?” Cee looked down at her, his dark eyes twinkled. “We can either work out sparring on the training grounds, or right here. Lady’s choice. Honestly, I don’t think I have the stamina for both.”

Was it wrong that Sakura longed for the training grounds more than another tumble in the sheets? She smiled, one of those overly bright smiles she used to use on Sasuke before she could stop herself. “When you put it like that, it seems a waste of a perfectly lazy morning to leave the comforts of our bed.”

“My sentiments exactly,” Cee murmured before he kissed her.

With a tiny pang in her heart, Sakura wondered about her teammates. She had a feeling any one of them would have been more than capable of a sparring match followed by a love session. Though, she didn’t really know, did she? Sasuke was more or less asexual. Naruto would probably go at it like rabbits, but she wasn’t going to pursue that line of thought with her best friend. Sai was — no— but Ino had been overly generous with their escapades. Kakashi — well — given how he behaved in battle and his love for a certain Adventure Romance series — she suspected he would be a fun partner. And Captain Yamato? She suspected he had a bit of a crush on Shizune.

“Hey, Darling, are you still with me?” Cee asked, lookup at at her from where his head was situated between her legs.

Sakura smiled again. “Just keep doing that, Callum.” She grabbed hold of that golden head of his and directed him back to the task at hand, enjoying his talented tongue and fingers. Though, while he pleasured her, she couldn’t help but fantasize about the idea of a good fuck after an exhilarating sparring match. “And don’t call me Darling.”
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Kakashi
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As he ran north through the woods with Naruto hot on his trail, he could feel his teammate’s nervous energy. He’d wanted to include Sai, his ink birds would have made the travel much easier, but Tsunade seemed to think the two future Hokage candidates needed a good run to clear their heads.

Without his Sharingan, Kakashi’s chakra reserves were astronomical. He felt like Gai, wearing all those weights for years, only to remove them and be light as a feather and lightning fast. Naturally, as the jinchuriki of the nine-tails, Naruto’s chakra reserves were insane. It should have taken a a shinobi team at a normal pace at least a week to reach the Land of Lightning.

Kakashi and Naruto made it in three days. They did have to slow their pace once they crossed the border. It wasn’t because their endurance flagged, but because they didn’t want the shinobi of Cloud to fear for their lives — Kakashi just wanted one Cloud shinobi to fear for his life.

“I’m so excited to see Sakura-chan!” Naruto grinned from ear to ear. “And Bee too, of course! Sakura never answered my letter about the comparison of the ramen here compared to back home. We’ll have to find out for ourselves, because I am starved! I hate ration bars. Ugh! And that last rabbit we caught? It tasted funny.”

“Animals tend to taste like what they eat,” Kakashi explained. “The plants here are different than what we’re used to. Your taste buds are more sensitive than most people’s so you’ll notice those types of things.”

Naruto tapped his nose and the whiskers on his cheeks twitched slightly. “Is that why you wear a mask, Kakashi-sensei? Because your sense of smell is so strong? I did read that smell and taste are related.”

Kakashi flashed him one of his amused smiles where his eyes crinkled completely. He truly cherished his little genin, even if they were all grown up now and war heroes (and some of them gods). “Partly, but also to hide my pretty face.”

“Yeah, right,” Naruto scoffed. “More like to hide those fish lips and buckteeth!” he cackled. Before Kakashi could react, Naruto sped on ahead.

Soon enough, two Cloud shinobi met them — Darui and Killer Bee. They were escorted directly to the Raikage’s office, gifted the overbearing man with a jug of expensive Fire sake. His secretary Mabui — in spite of her silvery white hair, dark skin and dark blue eyes, reminded Kakashi an awful lot of Shizune.

Whereas Lord Aye was rough, Mabui was polite and calm. When she smiled at Kakashi and Naruto, he didn’t miss the sparkle of feminine interest in her eyes.

As she escorted them towards their guest quarters, Darui and Bee had stayed behind in the Raikage’s office for a meeting.

“Okay, I think I understand. It’s probably good you’re wearing the mask,” Naruto whispered. His nose wrinkled, apparently he was learning how to smell certain things. Kakashi should probably have a talk with him about that. Minato would want him to give his son the birds and the bees talk, because Minato had given Kakashi that talk. It was only fair.

“We’d like to visit the hospital. Our teammate is here and we’re eager to see her,” Kakashi stated.

“Yeah! It’s been six months!” Naruto whined.

“Of course, I’ll take you to the hospital. We can ask the receptionist for their shift schedule,” Mabui murmured. She laid her hand gently upon Kakashi’s forearm.

It took all of Kakashi’s willpower not to shove her hand away from him, but he wore long sleeves and forearm protector armor even now. It wasn’t like he could feel her, but he didn’t like to be touched. He cleared his throat. “I would prefer not to be touched without my consent,” his voice was barely more than a growl.

“Oh!” Mabui’s pupils dilated — indicative of her healthy dose of fear of someone rated so high in the Bingo Book. “My apologies.” She flashed a weak smile and cleared her throat, holding her hand in a fist over her chest. “The hospital isn’t far.”

Naruto was vibrating with energy as they walked through the streets. Everything was gray in the Cloud Village and the scent of ozone was strong. Considering it was the main affinity of the shinobi here, that made sense. Everyone stared — at Naruto and Kakashi. Why wouldn’t they? They had quite the reputation.

Unfortunately, when they reached the hospital it was to learn that Sakura and Cee’s shift had ended a few hours ago. Yet, maybe that was more fortuitous, because it turned out the couple went to the training grounds.

The scent of cracked earth helped lead Kakashi straight to them. Sakura had her own brand of destruction. All the members of Team Seven were renown for their collateral damage. The Cloud medic was a skilled shinobi, but it was clear Sakura was holding back.

Her blue-green eyes widened in surprise when she spotted her teammates on the periphery. “Here they are,” Mabui stated unnecessarily. “I have to return to the office. If you need any assistance, I’m happy to help. The Raikage will meet with you in the morning at nine. Do be on time.” Then she left. Kakashi was grateful for the departure. He wasn’t trying to be rude, but he already rebuffed the advances of a gorgeous kage. He wasn’t about to fall for a foreign secretary — even a pretty one. Kakashi was here to bring home his wayward teammate. He would not be distracted.

Naruto shot out like an eager puppy expecting cuddles from their human and practically tackled Sakura. The blond Cloud ninja stepped away from the approach which irritated Kakashi. He should have moved to step in front of Sakura, acting as a shield. What sort of boyfriend simply stepped aside? Though, who really stood a chance against Naruto Uzumaki? If he had tried to step in, he’d have been tossed aside.

“Naruto!” Sakura hugged him back, her arms wound around his waist while his were around her shoulders, lifting her slightly from the ground. “What are you doing here!?” She laughed, genuinely happy to be reunited with the younger man. She glanced over at Kakashi and her smile was so sweet and sincere, he felt his heart clench. “And Kakashi-sensei too!”

“We’re here to take you home, Sakura-chan!” Naruto’s voice dropped to a whisper, but Kakashi could still hear with his senses. He wasn’t sure if the Cloud shinobi would be able to hear. “I don’t like the way you smell, Sakura-chan.”

Sakura rolled her eyes.  "I smell like sweat and dirt because I'm sparring.  You don't exactly smell great after a training session either."

Kakashi walked at a more sedate pace and when Naruto glanced up from his hug, his pupils were slitted like a fox. It wasn't the dirt and sweat smell that bothered Naruto.  “Mah, Naruto, let Sakura breathe.” Kakashi then stood next to them, clearly wedged between her and this Cloud boyfriend. Cee stood his ground and didn’t back up. Kakashi could respect that at least, but he felt it was foolish. “Are you up for a spar with your old team?”

“Yeah! Me and Sakura-chan against Kakashi-sensei!” Naruto suggested. He glanced over towards Cee briefly. “And uh, this guy.”

Sakura laughed again. “Maybe in a bit. Kakashi, Naruto, I’d like you to meet Cee.” She extracted herself from Naruto’s arms, gently prying him off her. She ruffled his golden hair, but didn’t shove or punch him. The smile she aimed at Cee made Kakashi’s skin crawl. “Cee, this is Naruto Uzumaki — the son of Minato Namikaze.”

Cee rubbed the back of his neck and smiled at the two new shinobi from Konoha. His dark eyes remained wary — smart boy. “It’s nice to meet you both. Sakura has told me so much about you two. I can tell you both care about her very much.”

“You’re the one I’m related to?” Naruto whispered. “A Namikaze like my dad?”

Cee nodded. “I’m sure Sakura explained we’re not allowed to use our family names once we become active shinobi of the Cloud. However, if you’d like, I would be happy to tell you about our clan’s traditions and about our grandparents.” He gestured between him and Sakura. “We were just about to wrap up our spar anyway.”

Naruto’s stomach growled loudly and he grimaced. “Maybe we could talk over food.”

Sakura sighed, her shoulders slumped. “I had hoped to spar a bit more.”

“Sakura, we finished a six hour shift earlier and two major surgeries. I’m sorry, but I have to tap out after a two hour spar.” Cee smiled at her placatingly.

Sakura pasted on one of her overly saccharine smiles that Kakashi remembered from her genin days.

“I’d be happy to spar with you,” Kakashi offered. He flashed his eye-smile at her and was pleased by the way her eyes brightened at the prospect. “I seem to not know what to do with all this energy now that my chakra isn’t being constantly zapped away.”

“Is there ramen?” Naruto asked, grabbing hold of Cee’s arm. “We can talk and eat, right?”

“Um, sure,” Cee answered frowning. He looked between Sakura and Kakashi. “Would you like to meet us at Tottori’s?”

“That sounds great, Callum,” Sakura answered, a more genuine smile sent his way. “Give us an hour.” She fisted her right hand into her left palm, her knuckles cracking as she scanned Kakashi head to toe. “It isn’t often one gets a chance to spar with the Copy Ninja.” She glanced back at Cee again. “Are you sure you don’t want to spar with us?”

“No, thanks.” Cee held up his hands, palms out. “I don’t mind having my ass handed to me by my girlfriend, but her teammates is another story.”

Kakashi stayed silent, but he smirked under his mask at the praise of his little kunoichi. And he could also smell what pissed off Naruto earlier. He didn’t like the way Sakura smelled either.
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Chapter Text

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Sakura
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She felt her heart lighten with the arrival of both Naruto and Kakashi. Even in this distant land, with their presence she felt like ‘home’ had come to her. Was this what Sasuke was talking about in his letter?

So this was Master Tsunade’s answer to her request for an extension of stay in Cloud. Part of her was disappointed that the casual comfort she’d found with Callum these last few months was about to draw to an end. She didn’t know what the future held for their relationship. Was it even possible considering they came from two vastly different villages?

In spite of the uncertainty she felt about her own future, she was excited that Naruto would have a chance to become acquainted with Callum. He was no longer the last of the Uzumaki, knowing that Sasuke’s old teammate Karin was also from that clan. However, the chance for Naruto to meet his father’s clan — the Namikaze — was a fortuitous discovery. The short amount of time they’d been around the Yondaime during that last battle had been enough to truly see just how much their village had been robbed. So many of the tragedies that her teammates faced — Naruto, Sasuke and Kakashi would have been mitigated if Minato had been the hokage.

Turning her attention towards Kakashi, Sakura tugged on her leather gloves eagerly. “So, any parameters?” She had no misgivings that she’d actually beat Kakashi in a match, but she hoped to keep up with him for a while at least. She tied her hair back into a low ponytail, it had grown just past her shoulders over the last several months.

“Taijutsu only attacks,” Kakashi answered. “Let’s not leave here owing Cloud money for damages. Other than that, no holds barred.” Kakashi winked and then he vanished in a swirl of silver maple leaves.

Sakura grimaced. That wink of his caught her off guard. She’d never seen Kakashi wink. Back when he wore his hitai-ate over one of his eyes, if he winked it would have just looked like he was blinking. She caught one of the leaves and crushed it before letting it fall to the dirt. The earth was already cracked and splintered from her fists. She hadn’t even considered that the Raikage might bill Konoha.

She trained her ears for the faintest of sounds, scanned the ground using a surge of earth chakra to map the area. He wasn’t standing on the broken ground or buried within it. If he was in the air, he’d have to land sooner or later. She’d be ready!

Suddenly, Kakashi stood behind her, his warm frame pressed behind her body. “Yo,” he whispered, yanking the tie from her hair and vanishing again.

She sensed Kakashi behind her again and Sakura whirled around, just in time to block his kick. They were a flurry of fists and feet, his dark eyes were intently focused on her and it was only a little disorienting that there was no familiar, glowing, red Sharingan staring back at her.

Kakashi’s old transplanted eye was gone, just like her chunin flak jacket and hitai-ate. They were all casualties to the war. She still didn’t understand how Naruto created Kakashi a new eye and hoped maybe now with things more calm she’d have a chance to examine him.

“How’s your stamina?” Sakura asked, ducking just out of range of his fist, but still feeling it graze over her shoulder with his longer reach.

“We covered the distance between here and Konoha in three days,” Kakashi answered, breathing evenly as he casually swept his leg under hers. He wasn’t even a little winded!

She went tumbling to the ground, but quickly recovered before he could pin her. “Three days? I can believe that with Naruto, but you’re okay? Did you two even make camp?”

Kakashi rolled back his left shoulder and took back up his ready stance. “We took a couple four hour breaks to nap. My ninken stood guard. I don’t have the same level of chakra reserves as Naruto or Sasuke or Lady Tsunade, but it’s certainly an improvement on what I’d grown accustomed to working with. It’s like training with extra heavy weights and they’re suddenly removed.”

“I like the weight analogy. No one can compare to fully trained Uzumaki and Uchiha chakra levels,” Sakura pointed out.

“True, since they’re descended from that psychotic goddess that you punched,” he countered with a punch of his own that Sakura neatly caught in her palm. She twisted his arm behind his back, but he danced out of her grip like a contortionist. “However, I still feel like I could spar with you for at least an hour.”

“We’ll see,” Sakura ran her tongue along the edge of her front teeth, trying to decide her next strategy. She decided to trust her instinct and simply threw relentless punches and kicks at him, to which he precisely countered. In her heart, Sakura was a brawler. By contrast, Kakashi seemed to always anticipate his opponent — it earned him the moniker of Copy Ninja, but how could he still seem to do it without the Sharingan?

After a few minutes of constant back and forth, Sakura started to feel a little dizzy, her body drenched in sweat from the effort. She ran the back of her hand across her brow, wiping away the perspiration. For a moment, her vision blurred, she saw the superimposed vision of Kakashi covered in blood and soot, his masked ripped revealing most of his face, and his thunderstorm grey eyes dark with grief.

It was a memory of the moment she regained consciousness from the last battle, after Naruto and Sasuke had mortally wounded each other in the valley. The silence had been terrifying. The look of relief on Kakashi’s face when he helped her sit up, worried that she’d never wake up from the genjutsu. Likely, if she didn’t have her affinity against genjutsus, it would have been deadly. She was kind enough not to let Naruto and Sasuke know that, but both she knew and Kakashi knew the truth.

“Sakura? Are you okay?” Kakashi’s strong, powerful hands gripped her shoulders firmly. The same hands that kept her from plummeting into a lake of lava.

She blinked up at him. “Um yeah, just a little PTSD.” She laughed mirthlessly and ran her fingers through her damp hair. He would know about that better than most. “Ugh, maybe I should chop it off again. Now I feel gross and its all sticking to my neck.”

“No need.” Kakashi’s hands were suddenly in her hair, his gloved fingers carded through the tangled mess and arranged it back into a low ponytail with the stolen hair tie. “It’s my fault for taking your tie.”

“It is actually,” Sakura agreed. She stared up into Kakashi’s dark gaze as he seemed to linger just a moment too long, his hands still in her hair.

Then he stepped back, his thumbs tucked into the front pockets of his jonin blues.

They stood there awkwardly for a moment, her hair freshly tied back.

“Do you want to talk about it?” Kakashi hesitated. “The flashback?”

“Just thinking back to when I woke up to a world with only the two of us in it,” she admitted. “If I had been trapped within the genjutsu much longer, Naruto and Sasuke would have bled out. Can you imagine a world where we were the only two living people?”

Kakashi’s dark eyes grew darker as he stared at her. “I wouldn’t have minded some peace and quiet and you’re good company.” Then his eyes creased into that familiar eye-smile of his, much more cute now that both his eyes were revealed. “You’d quickly have grown bored of your old sensei though.”

“I—,” Sakura gaped at him, speechless.

Kakashi cleared his throat and his face was carefully neutral. “How about I show you one of those thousand of jutsus I learned, hm? It’s never too late to teach my favorite former student!” He began flashing through the signs quickly, his hands almost a blur. “I learned this one from Tenzo.”

Sakura’s attention narrowed in on his hands seeing a series of at least fifteen signs before he slammed his palms flat onto the upturned earth. The area directly in front of him spanning for at least twenty meters smoothed out, as if it hadn’t been cracked open by her chakra-enhanced fists. “What?”

Kakashi glanced up at her from his position crouched on the ground. “Who else did you think repaired all the damaged training grounds back home?”

“I never really thought about it.” Sakura smiled self-consciously. Of course there was someone tasked with repairing the damage from the spars. “That also explains why so many of the trees I uprooted seemed to be replanted,” she mused. “Could you show me the signs again?”

“Of course.” Kakashi performed the signs again, slower. Sakura copied the jutsu and then they both laid their hands on the ground and repaired it in opposite directions. “And Tenzo didn’t replant the trees you uprooted, but grew new ones.”

They continued to work, repairing the training grounds. It was tiring work and Sakura could feel her energy start to flag. It had been a long day, followed by a good work out and now an exciting new application of her chakra. She felt satisfied.

Kakashi sat on the freshly smoothed earth, hands braced behind him and his long legs outstretched before him. Sakura moved to sit next to him as the sun began to slip down past the horizon. The warm colors of the sunset lit up the mountains of Cloud.

“You know your relationship won’t be approved,” Kakashi said quietly.

“We’re allies now,” Sakura argued. “I’m okay with long-distance.”

Kakashi hummed at her answer. “There’s no future in it. You’re too tightly connected with the current and future Hokages. This alliance between Leaf and Cloud is too new. As the woman, it would be expected for you to move villages. Konoha will never let you go, Sakura.”

Sakura let out a deep breath. The news wasn’t surprising. Cee already asked the Raikage about the possibility of him transferring and was flatly denied. “Callum makes me feel good about myself,” Sakura whispered. “He’s good to me and he treats me like I’m precious.”

Kakashi laid his large, warm hand on top of her head, reminding her of the few times he showed the affectionate gesture in her youth. “You are precious, Sakura. And you don’t need a man to make you feel good about yourself.”

He then stood in one fluid motion and offered his hand. “I’m famished. Let’s have dinner. All I’ve had for the last three days is ration bars and dried fruit.”

Sakura laid her hand in his, enjoying the way her hand seemed to fit perfectly inside his larger one. It was different than when she and Callum held hands. Once she was on her feet, she let go of his hand and he promptly hooked his thumbs back into his pants pocket. “Follow me. Tottori’s is pretty good. A lot of the food here is too spicy for me.”

As they walked side by side, Sakura felt conflicted. Her honeymoon period with Callum was drawing to an end and yet she was happy to be reunited with her teammates. It was a shame she had to come all the way to Lightning to find a man that treated her well.

“So, did you really read all the Icha Icha series?” Kakashi asked.

Sakura laughed. Of course he would bring that up! “I did indeed.” She glanced up at him, only to smile genuinely at the excited gleam in his eyes. “And I liked the characters and the overall plot. The illustrations were also very well drawn and tasteful.”

Kakashi practically beamed at her simple praise and Sakura felt a flutter in her belly at the spark of true happiness on the usually aloof ninja’s face.

“We could talk about the books in more detail later if you’d like,” Sakura suggested.

“I can take you out to that little cafe you like — Tami’s? My treat,” Kakashi answered.

Sakura laughed. Tami was a woman she saved during the Pain attack and she always served Sakura complimentary. “Pretty easy to do, you cheapskate, since Tami never makes me pay!”

“Oh.” Kakashi rubbed the back of his neck and the tips of his ears were suspiciously pink. “Well. How about dinner then? Your choice.”

Sakura stared at him a moment in shock, standing in place. Kakashi stopped as well and arched his silvery eyebrows at her in askance. “Are you asking me out on a date?”

Kakashi shrugged. “If you want it to be a date. Otherwise, it’s just me taking you out to dinner so we can spend time together.”

Sakura opened her mouth to respond, but she was stunned silent. She cleared her throat. She had been so wrapped up in her life in Kumo, the thought of returning home, doing something like eating at a restaurant felt too surreal. Was Kakashi asking her out because he was interested in her — like as a man was interested in a woman? Or was he asking her to dinner as friends because he was excited to talk about his favorite book series? “Tottori’s isn’t far. Come on.”
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OoO

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Kakashi
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As he and Sakura left the training field, after using a water jutsu to wash the grime off their hands and face, he was grateful that her smell was now strongly of earth, salt, and himself. Cee was probably a nice person, for a foreign shinobi, but Kakashi didn’t want his little kunoichi to smell like the Cloud ninja.

He followed after Sakura towards Tottori’s Ramen House to meet with Naruto and Cee. The two blonds sat across from each other at a booth. Sakura settled next to her boyfriend and Kakashi sat next to Naruto, across from her. Cee had ordered for them both and Kakashi wanted to be irritated, but the dish was rather delicious and seemed to have extra fried eggplant in it.

“How did you know to order this?” Kakashi asked. He didn’t think Naruto paid enough attention to what anyone else ate when it came to ramen, being so absorbed in his own consumption. He’d snuck a few bites in under his mask while the others were occupied.

“Sakura and I have talked about so many things and since we avoid state secrets, we sometimes talk about our friends,” Cee answered easily enough. He slid his arm over Sakura’s shoulders, having finished his own meal.

“When we eat out we go through the menus and imagine what our teammates would be likely to order,” Sakura explained, leaning against the blond medic comfortably. “Though, I have to say that Darui and Bee have somewhat unique preferences.”

“So, I was thinking,” Naruto started, angling towards Kakashi with his mouth half full. “When we head back, we need to make a detour. Cee offered to introduce me to Pa’s clan, my clan.”

Kakashi felt his cheek twitch in irritation, but thankfully his mask kept the tic hidden. “Won’t that be out of the way?”

“That’s a great idea!” Sakura cheered, smiling radiantly at her boyfriend. “It’s not too far out of the way, though, I’m not really up to traveling at the speed you two maintained to travel between Konoha and here in three days.”

“It’s actually great-grandfather’s birthday this weekend,” Cee added. He grinned at Naruto. “Your great-grandfather too. He was off on a hunting trip when Sakura and I were there last, so you’ll both meet him.”

Naruto’s mouth fell open and a few noodles plummeted back into his bowl. “Great-grandfather? How old is he?”

“Eighty-two,” Cee answered. “Great-grandfather Kanami was born the same year as your Leaf village was founded. Your grandfather and my grandmother were two years apart, my grandmother the elder sibling. Your grandparents immigrated to Konoha nearly forty-five years ago.” He shifted his eyes towards Kakashi. “How old would Minato have been?”

“He would have turned forty-four in January,” Kakashi said quietly.

“Uh, but like, that would make great-grandpa thirty-seven when Pa was born, right?” Naruto asked. His tanned cheeks tinted pink when everyone gaped at him. “What? I’m working on my sums so I can make a good hokage, believe it!”

“Well, people did tend to marry younger in those days. Great-grandfather married at sixteen and great-grandmother was fifteen.” Cee cleared his throat. “During the waring states especially, the average lifespan was usually less than thirty-years old.”

“Don’t get any ideas, Naruto,” Kakashi warned,. “You’re way too young to be thinking about marriage.” His eyes flickered towards Sakura, sipping on her glass of water. “Both of you.”

Sakura began to cough and Cee patted her back gently before wrapping his arm over her shoulders and hugging her again him. “War ages people, Hatake. Legal age for marriage in Kumo is still sixteen.” He smiled softly at Naruto. “Great-grandfather Kanami has blue eyes as bright as yours, Naruto.”

“Really?” Naruto braced his forearms eagerly on the table, leaning forward. “What’s his chakra affinity?”

“Uh, Water and Wind,” Cee answered. “He doesn’t talk about it much because it’s sort of unusual to not be a Lightning user in this land."

“So,” Naruto swiveled his head back towards Kakashi. “We made good time reaching Cloud, could we detour through my clan’s village? I still need to meet up with Bee for training and aren’t you meeting with the Raikage in the morning?”

“I do have a meeting tomorrow morning with Lord Aye. The inauguration is next week.” Kakashi creased his eyes into a smile. “I should probably show up for my own promotion to kage.”

“Kakashi!” Sakura leaned forward, slipping out from under Cee’s arm and gripping the table so tightly the wood creaked ominously. “Don’t you dare show up late for your own ceremony!”

Kakashi stared back at her with his eyes slightly narrowed. “I need you and Naruto both there for moral support.” He gestured between her and Naruto with his gloved hand. “You two are my family.”

“And Gai-sensei,” Naruto added, digging back into his ramen.

“Gai is my rival, not my family,” Kakashi corrected. “Regardless, you both need to be there and it normally takes an entire week to travel between Kumo and Konoha.” He folded his arms over his chest and slouched against the upholstered seat-back. “Unless Sakura wants to ride piggy back with one of us part of the run.”

Sakura rolled her eyes. “It wouldn’t be that much of a detour to visit Cee and Naruto’s family. Besides, you need to meet with the Raikage,” she said, staring hard at Kakashi. “And be punctual. His fuse is shorter than Master Tsunade’s and Naruto can train with Bee. Cee and I need to wrap up a few more things at the hospital if we’re leaving.”

“Fine,” Kakashi agreed. He was amused that Sakura didn’t reject the idea of being carried via piggy back. Though after running so intensely for three days, the reunion and the spar, Kakashi was starting to feel the exhaustion creep over him. However, knowing that Sakura would be going home with the Cloud ninja, he suspected it might be a restless night for him.

Thirty minutes later and freshly showered, Kakashi sat in the window seat of his and Naruto’s assigned room. The only sounds were Naruto brushing his teeth in the bathroom and Kakashi sharpening his kunai on the whetting stone. Both men were on edge, knowing that Sakura was a few blocks away, staying in the company of a man.

Logically, Kakashi understood that Sakura was an adult. It was only natural that she engage in an adult relationship. But he didn’t like it — not at all.

“I sort of hate him, ya know? Like, he’s my cousin, right? But, him and Sakura-chan?” Naruto shook his head. “And he’s not a bad person or anything. He’s actually pretty great. That makes it worse!”

Kakashi felt a stabbing pain behind his eye, a painful migraine developing. With a groan he shoved away from the window and flung himself onto his bed with a belly flop. “I really don’t want to think about it. The sooner we get home, the better.”
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OoO

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Sakura
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She and Callum snuggled up with one another on the sofa, their hair still damp from their shared shower. They hadn’t spoken much once they returned home, simply fell into each other’s arms and then after they cleaned up, started watching their drama series.

As the end credits began to scroll across the screen, Cee used the remote to power off the television. He pressed a soft kiss to Sakura’s shoulder. “We should go to bed, Sakura. Tomorrow is going to be busy wrapping things up at the hospital before you leave and then we’ll need to pack. I sent a falcon to my mother to let her know we’ll be arriving the day after.”

“And then I’ll be heading back to Konoha,” Sakura said quietly.

Cee’s arms tensed around her. “Yeah.” He swallowed hard. “I do like your friends. It’s obvious how much they care about you.”

“I’m going to miss you,” Sakura whispered.

Cee rested his chin on her shoulder and nuzzled the side of her cheek with his. “Same.” He sighed. “Let’s try to enjoy these next few days.”

“Can we at least try long-distance?” Sakura bit her lower lip, anxious like she hadn’t been in months.

“I don’t think it’s a good idea, Sak,” Cee answered, his voice heavy with emotion. “Your soon to be Hokage has literally come to drag you back home. And Lord Aye has been very clear that if I leave the Land of Lightning, he’ll label me as a missing nin.”

“It’s not fair.” Sakura’s lips quivered and she could feel her eyes tear up.

“Life rarely is, Sakura.” Cee slipped his arm under Sakura’s knees to turn her onto his lap. He cradled the back of her head, fingers entwined in her long hair. He pressed a kiss gently to her lips. “I am so grateful for these last few months. You will always hold a special place in my heart.” He laughed bitterly. “I know I’m not the only person that’s fallen in love with you, Sakura. And I’m incredibly jealous of your future partner— whomever they are.”

“Could we at least write?” Sakura asked, clutching the front of Callum’s shirt. She could feel him slipping away from her even though they were wrapped in each other’s embrace.

“We’ll still be friends, Sakura. And colleagues. I intend to stay in your life, even if on the periphery as I hope you’ll remain in mine. I’ll make sure Lord Aye includes me at the Five Kage summit next year. That might be the next time we see each other.” He kissed her again, deeper this time, only stopping when they were both breathless. “Just promise me, you’ll live your life to the fullest.”

“You make it sound like you’re dying,” Sakura scolded. She traced her thumb over his bottom lip, pleased with how it was slightly swollen from their kisses.

Cee closed his eyes and leaned his forehead against hers. “I feel like it. Though, these last few months with you, compared to the dream I lived within that cocoon during the war? I will cherish our time together.”

Then he stood, still holding Sakura against him with her arms wound around his neck as he carried them to their bed.
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OoO

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Kakashi
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Sleep was elusive. Naruto snored peacefully in his bed while Kakashi busied himself doing pushups. He paused on number five hundred, another piercing headache. His vision blurred and when he blinked repeatedly, tears seemed to glimmer in the darkness. The pain abated, so he continued with his pushups. Daybreak couldn’t happen soon enough.  He'd have to ask Sakura to check him over.  These headaches weren't right.

Chapter Text

Kakashi
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He hardly slept the night before and he had no appetite that morning, so he actually made his way towards the Raikage’s office early. He signed in with an aid and waited in the lounge, reading his beloved dog-eared copy of Icha Icha, wondering which parts Sakura liked. He suspected she might like the series for the lead character since Junko was obviously based on Tsunade — the strong-willed, confident, brilliant woman that led their village.

However, Kakashi couldn’t focus on the familiar dialogue. He closed the book and tucked it back into his flak jacket front pocket. Was he being selfish? He knew he was, but Konoha needed Sakura. He was a polarizing figure. Both Naruto and Sakura had huge amounts of support within the village and outside. Kakashi was an impressive warrior and assassin. But Naruto could reason with even his greatest enemies, create allies where once there were foes. Sakura was a healer — not just of the body, but she inspired those around her. She and Naruto were beacons of hope and if the Land of Fire and the whole continent was able to properly move forward into a less violent future, he needed them both at his side.

His reunion with both Master Minato and Obito during the war reminded Kakashi of just how lonely he was. Jiraiya was another lost mentor, while he had his obvious faults, he was a good guy. Learning the truth about Itachi, he failed him as much as he failed Rin. He did have Tenzo, Gai and Yugao, but they were all struggling with their own pain and Kakashi felt poorly adapted to help them.

There were times when he was barely able to keep his head above water, the depressive clouds loomed forever on the horizon. He was desperate to convince the council and the Daimyo about the mental health program — for children and also for the shinobi.

If Kakashi was suddenly to be in charge of the entire village and by extension, protector of the whole of Fire, he needed more than just physical resilience. He needed his people to have strong hearts and mental resolve.

A throat cleared and Mabui leaned against the doorframe of the waiting lounge. “Lord Aye is ready for you, Hatake.”

Kakashi looked up at her and then blinked hard to clear his blurry vision. He stood, keeping his posture straight. He needed to make a good impression. In Konoha, Kakashi could get away with his insolence after being the number one ninja for a decade and a half. His tardiness was his rebellion against Sarutobi, still bitter about Minato’s death and placing the blame solidly on his shoulders and his subsequent behavior with Lady Tsunade when she first came into power for placing him on countless solo missions when he’d just started to grow attached to his genin. She quickly beat that insolence out of him, took away his students and made him improve himself before she allowed Sakura and Naruto back under his leadership. His failure to prepare them better for the chunin exams endangered their lives. Though, even if he had prepared them better, they’d have been no match for Orochimaru at that time.

At first, Kakashi had been bitter, but Tsunade had been right. He wasn’t cut out to be a teacher, but he was a hell of a team leader. He’d worked on himself just as much during that interlude as the two (three) Neo-sannin had under their apprenticeships.

“Have a seat,” Aye said, gesturing towards the wooden, straight back chair across from his desk.

Mabui bowed briefly and then left the room, securing the door behind her.

“Good morning, Lord Aye,” Kakashi answered, sitting properly in the uncomfortable chair. He stared straight across into the Raikage’s eyes, careful to avoid looking at the stump of his left arm.

“I’ll agree to pardon that dark-haired demon Uchiha brat of yours,” Aye stated. He leaned back and drummed the fingers of his right hand over the desktop. “I’m not doing it because he deserves it, but because of the efforts his teammates have made because you feel he deserves it. I’m aware he’s tried to kill all three of you at one point. I looked a bit more into the boy’s past and it was tragic. More so than most. Your Third Hokage was a hard ass old geezer and that Shimura was a scumbag. Surviving the massacre of your whole family will fuck anyone up.”

The Raikage paused long enough to pick up his water and drain the liquid. He sniffed before continuing his lecture. “Your village should have prevented such a thing. Your clans are a poison and when you’re the kage, I suggest you work on integrating your people better. When my shinobi became active duty, they drop their surname and we are all of the Cloud family. I am interested in that prosthetic Uzumaki has, but I’ll pardon the brat without it.” He narrowed his eyes. “You can’t have Cee though.”

Kakashi pressed his lips together and kept his face carefully neutral. He didn’t particularly want Cee. “It does seem cruel to separate them. I wasn’t expecting the two of them to enter a romantic relationship.”

Aye’s smirk was instantaneous. “Those Namikaze are notorious for wooing powerful kunoichi from other countries, aren’t they?” His smile vanished. “Not that we acknowledge clans in this village. So you didn’t hear that from me.”

“No, sir,” Kakashi answered, slightly amused in spite of the situation. He ignored the ball of anxiety in the back of his mind and the piercing headache that began to form once more. He had to ask. He was about to be the Rokudaime and he owed his friend to do everything in his power to secure her happiness. “I don’t really want to ask, but is there a possibility of Sakura having a home in Cloud?”

Aye’s eyes darkened and a smug smile spread across his lips. “I would be a fool to not want a medic of her talent. In these short few months, she and Cee have revolutionized medicine in this country. She is much beloved by those she’s worked with at the hospital and in the villages. She’s almost single-handedly changed Cloud’s opinion on Leaf shinobi — Uzumaki being the other guiding force.”

Kakashi nodded. He wasn’t surprised. “And what about the other option? Is there a chance you would allow Cee to transfer to Konoha.”

“Not a snowball in Hell’s chance,” Aye growled. “Cloud isn’t as big a village as Konoha. After Bee and Darui, Cee is my strongest shinobi. Even before your mini-Tsunade came, he improved the combat medics role for the entire village. He’s an intelligent fighter, but he also sees things I don’t. I need him as my advisor.”

Kakashi gestured towards the door. “Mabui seems pretty strong and intelligent as well.”

“Yeah, for a woman,” Aye barked. He sniffed disdainfully.

Kakashi grimaced at the blatantly sexist comment. He knew that especially prior to Tsunade’s reign, the ninja society of the Leaf was misogynistic. He was lucky enough to appreciate knowing Kushina, Tsunade, Yugao and of course Sakura on such a personal level. “If she did choose to stay in Cloud, what would that mean, exactly?”

A calculating look flashed over Aye’s face and then it was gone a moment later. He leaned his elbow heavily on the desk. “She would work at the hospital, of course, but she wouldn’t be allowed out in the field. She’d always be considered a foreign shinobi. Our villages are friends now, but we’ve spent a lot longer being enemies. Any children she and Cee would have would be citizens of Cloud. If Cee died, she would have to remain here. You’ll notice, of the Hidden villages, only Cloud didn’t have a member in the Akatsuki. And she wouldn’t be able to tear up my practice fields anymore. I appreciate how the two of you repaired the damage yesterday, but she’s a little too destructive. I already have to deal with my brother when it comes to collateral damage.”

“I see.” Kakashi wasn’t completely surprised by the offer. It was definitely one-sided. He didn’t ask what Konoha would get in exchange if Sakura stayed with Cee in Cloud. He knew what he would personally lose. And Sakura wasn’t a bartering chip, not to him, not to Naruto, not to Tsunade. “Thank you, for the pardon of Sasuke Uchiha. And for your hospitality.”

“When’s your inauguration?” Aye asked.

“Next week,” Kakashi answered.

Aye leaned back and laughed loudly. “Cutting it a bit close, aren’t you, Hatake?”

“It’s an important day for me.” Kakashi glanced out the large window of the Raikage office, the gray clouds were thick. He could already feel himself growing depressed with the overcast sky. “In that last battle, I stood with my team, watching them step up to defeat a goddess. It took all three of them working together. I helped some, but we would have lost without those three.” He was the one being promoted to kage, but he needed strong warriors and trusted friends alongside him. Never again would Konoha be ruled by a dark council like it had been. “I wish to recognize their importance and have them acknowledged by the whole village.” He breathed heavily through his nose. “If Sakura wishes to return afterwards, would that be permissible?”

“I would welcome her with open arms myself,” Aye assured him. He glanced down at his missing left limb. “A one-sided hug at least.”

There was a knock at the door.

“Ah, it’s time for my next meeting. Don’t be a stranger, Hatake.” Aye dismissed him.

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OoO

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Sakura
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Breakfast had been a silent affair. Side-by-side, she and Callum had scrambled eggs, fried tomatoes, flipped pancakes and smothered the latter in honey and berries. It was the type of weekend breakfast she enjoyed as a child with her parents. She had taught him how to make these foods, as they weren’t a staple of Cloud. The coffee Cee brewed for her was especially potent, just the way she liked it.

Their bags were packed. Hers for the trip back to Konoha. His for a few days with his family in the Namikaze village. She also suspected, he planned to stay behind with his clan for a few days after she left, to help cope with their impending breakup. Maybe she could convince Ino and the girls to a wine and whine pity party. She immediately nixed that idea — Ino lost her father, Hinata and Tenten lost Neji. Callum would still be alive.

“We need to go,” Cee said quietly. “I don’t want to miss Naruto and Bee’s spar.” He took a deep breath and smiled at her sadly. “I really want to kiss you right now, but if I do, I’m not sure I’ll be able to go through with the next three days.”

Sakura nodded. This wasn’t just about her. Cee and Naruto were family. This was a chance for the two of them to connect. “First and foremost, Callum, you are my friend.”

“As you are mine, Sakura. However, when we step out this door, we’ll no longer be a couple, okay? And, please, you can’t call me Callum anymore.” He took a deep breath and shifted his pack over his shoulders. “That name is reserved for family and lovers.”

Sakura bit the inside of her lip to keep it from trembling and she nodded, not trusting herself to speak. It hurt so bad right now! She could already feel the distance grow between them. Sakura would bury that pain, because Callum, no Cee, was still alive. Compared to Master Tsunade and how her first love died, having an amiable break up was certainly a better fate.

“Let’s go, Cee,” Sakura said quietly.

As they stood in the hall, intent to walk down the stairs, both reluctant to close this chapter, the sound of the tumbler clicking in the door’s lock felt so final.

They were the first to arrive on the practice field, followed shortly by Bee and Darui. The former was exuberant and annoying as usual, the latter looked at them both with pity. Naruto showed up alongside Kakashi. Naruto and Bee immediately started training.

“Yo,” Kakashi greeted, standing next to Sakura. He sounded exhausted.

“Hey, are you okay?” Sakura focused on him, noting his pallor. Immediately, she went into medic mode, laying the back of her hand across his forehead where the hitai-ate didn’t cover his flesh.

He felt chilly and she started to run a diagnostic, but Kakashi caught her wrists. “I didn’t sleep well, but I’m okay. I’m just a little stressed. Maybe you can look at me later, okay?” He released her arms and gestured towards the clashing of jinchuriki. “With power like that, finesses doesn’t seem to matter.”

Sakura stared at him a moment longer, she would look him over later, but she’d respect his request for delay for now. She turned her attention back to the display of raw power. “I can’t even imagine how much chakra they’re both wasting and yet it doesn’t even matter.”

“I used to think you’d never see someone with that much chakra be a medic,” Cee added. “There’s little motivation for precision when you have so much chakra to spare. But, your Godaime is half Uzumaki herself, so she ruined my theory.”

Sakura patted his shoulder playfully without thinking, only retracting her hand when Cee stiffened under her touch. She folded her arms over her chest to resist the temptation. “Yeah, Master Tsunade is always breaking the mold.”

“Literally, quite often,” Kakashi joked.

His comment made Sakura smile slightly, grateful for the levity.

“Hatake, might you and I speak privately for a moment?” Cee asked, his dark eyes meeting Sakura’s briefly before settling onto Kakashi. He stepped away from her.

“Would you like me to explain Bee’s sword stances?” Darui offered, moving towards Sakura’s side almost seamlessly where Cee had just left. The two long-time partners really were in sync.

Sakura nodded, but didn’t trust herself to speak.
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OoO

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Kakashi
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Well, if he didn’t already feel like shit for Sakura and Cee’s inevitable breakup, realizing it already happened made Kakashi feel like scum, (but not worse than scum). When she offered to heal his piercing headache, he’d declined. If she was feeling shitty, then he deserved to feel shitty too — out of solidarity.

He followed Cee a fair distance away from the spar.

“Here’s the deal, Hatake,” Cee started, folding his arms over his chest, his posture tense. “I love Sakura. If it wasn’t for the logistics of my not being able to transfer out of Cloud or her out of Leaf, I would marry her in a second. Even knowing there’s no way I can have a future with her as my partner, I don’t regret giving her my love without reservation these last few months. She knows this. I’ve made sure she knows, I have no regrets.”

“If you’re wanting a consolation gift, I have nothing to offer,” Kakashi retorted, irritated by not only Sakura’s misery but his headache. He squeezed his eyes shut for a moment.

Cee stared back at him hard. “I know what’s wrong with your eyes. If you do not come to terms with your own feelings, you will be blind within the year.” He looked towards the distance where Sakura and Naruto stood with Bee and Darui. “She deserves to be happy, but will she truly be happy in Konoha?” He frowned. “I’m not sure if she’d truly be happy here either. Cloud is not as forward thinking about kunoichi as the Leaf. I worry a life here would suffocate her.”

“Sakura needs her friends,” Kakashi agreed. The love of a single man would never be enough for her — she needed community and her work. “Her friends are in Konoha. I don’t think she’ll feel satisfied here in the long run.” He cocked his head to the side and studied the other man. They were near enough to each other in age to have both suffered the harsh realities of two wars. “Though, thank you for treating her well and for sharing your family with Naruto.”

“Satisfied, huh?” Cee scoffed, his dark eyes flashed with anger and bitterness. “Will you be the one to satisfy her then, Kakashi Hatake? When you’re Hokage, will you be able to give her the attention she deserves? Will you start and end each day together? Comfort her after a bad surgery? Encourage her when she doesn’t have the answer? Hold her during her nightmares? Make sure that she knows that she’s enough just the way she is?” His eyes narrowed. “That she doesn’t feel useless or annoying?”

Kakashi’s hands curled into fists. He knew of Sakura’s insecurities and the role that he and her other teammates played in creating them. He appreciated that Sakura had someone to give her such loving support while she was in Cloud. He could admit to feeling jealous. It had been Kakashi and Sakura alone, together, at the end of the world just a short while ago. On that bleak day, Sakura alone had been enough for him to persevere. He would defend Sakura’s right to happiness with his own dying breath.

Though, after Kakashi’s conversation with Aye, these last few months were hardly representative of how the rest of her life would be if she stayed in Cloud. She’d be a glorified hostage under the Raikage.

“Sakura and Naruto are the best people I know,” Kakashi confessed quietly. They both still had a certain innocence and optimism his generation lacked. Perhaps, if Minato had lived, things would have turned out different. “I’m a selfish bastard. I know that. I’ll try my best though.”

Cee nodded. “Sometimes, trying our best is all we can do.” He took a deep breath. “For what it’s worth, I hope when the two of you figure it out, that you’ll make each other happy.” He smiled faintly at Kakashi. “She knows how she deserves to be treated, so you better not fuck it up.”
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OoO

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Sakura
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Leaving Kumogakure itself didn’t sadden her. Cee had accompanied her, Naruto, and Kakashi towards the village of the Namikaze clan. They kept at a rapid pace, the physical challenge of enduring the run kept Sakura’s mind from spiraling. Cee led the group while she and Naruto were in the middle formation and Kakashi covered their rear.

They didn’t stop until dusk, making camp for the night. They were close to the village and would arrive by mid-morning the next day. The last time she visited the rural village, she’d been regarded with caution as her and Cee’s relationship was just blossoming. Would she be unwelcome now?

Sakura and Kakashi sat next to each other around their campfire, Naruto and Cee slept on the other side of the fire. Naturally, Kakashi volunteered for first watch, but Sakura was too restless to sleep just yet.

Kakashi shared the results of his meeting with the Raikage earlier that morning. The whole purpose of this six month sojourn was a success. Lord Aye agreed to grant Sasuke a complete pardon.

“When you’re Hokage, what do you want to accomplish?” Sakura asked, curious about Kakashi’s goals. He’d always been obtuse in his dreams of the future. Did he have dreams now? There seemed to be a new resolve within him. In the last battle he kept stepping up and meeting whatever demands were asked of him. He’d made peace with both his childhood teammate and reunited with his former mentor.

“I only plan to be hokage long enough for Naruto to mature enough to take over. I won’t have him inherit a mess.” Kakashi rubbed at his eye and looked across the fire at Naruto’s sleeping form. “Lady Tsunade has been a phenomenal leader. I also remember Master Minato’s dreams for the future — he wanted progress. And I’ve inherited an unprecedented alliance. I want to nurture the peace. It looks like the Akatsuki’s goal for peace was accomplished under our mutual enemy.”

“Obito would be proud of you, Kakashi,” Sakura said quietly.

“Thank you for saying that,” Kakashi murmured. “I also plan to clear Itachi’s name. I will approve yours and Ino’s mental health program project.” He shrugged. “The village still needs to be rebuilt, so I plan to keep Tenzo busy. He’s basically been working nonstop for the past six months and there’s still a lot of construction to be completed.”

“You mean Captain Yamato? You know he prefers that name,” Sakura chided.

“Right, Yamato,” Kakashi agreed with a chuckle. “I need to remember that. He gives me that creepy look whenever I use his old name."

Sakura smiled, knowing exactly what look that was. Captain Yamato had the perfect face for telling scary stories over a campfire.

Kakashi sighed. “I returned to Konoha a couple of months ago. It didn’t feel like home without you there.” He smiled, creasing his eyes in that familiar way. “I’m glad you’re coming back with us, Sakura.”

It wasn’t like she had an alternative. The Hokage wanted her back home, she’d go back home. She did miss the green forests and the blue skies of Konoha. The thin mountain air and the gray skies of Cloud never brought her peace. Sakura drank from her flask the spiced tea she’d prepared that morning and then offered it to Kakashi. “It helps stimulate chakra production and ease sore muscles.”

“Thank you.” Kakashi took the flask and pulled down his mask, leaving the material pooled at his throat.

Sakura stared at him, soaking in the details of his face — the high cheekbones, the full lips, the straight nose, the faint silver stubble along his jaw. The last time she saw his face was at the end of the war, his mask had been ripped to shreds and he’d been covered in soot and blood. Even covered in grime, he was a handsome man.

Kakashi smiled at her, the effect devastating with a tiny dimple on his right cheek, even white teeth with slightly more prominent canines. He really was the most beautiful man she’d ever seen. “Looks like you’ve beat both Naruto and Sasuke. You’re the first to see me unmasked, Sakura.”

Sakura smiled back at him and took the flask for another sip. “This isn’t the first time I’ve seen your face, Kakashi.”

The annoyed, narrowed eyed look on Kakashi’s face that followed— he had an even better resting bitch face than Sasuke — was priceless.

“You’re still the prettiest person I know,” Sakura teased, enjoying the blush darkening Kakashi’s pale cheeks. She smiled. “And even cuter when you blush, Pretty Boy.”

With a pout, Kakashi pulled up his mask and stared into the fire.

“Don’t be like that,” Sakura murmured. She reached for his face and gently pulled the mask back down, only mildly surprised when he allowed it. She pulled away, drawing her knees up to her chest and circling her arms around them. “Why did you come to Cloud personally to bring me home? You’re cutting it close with the inauguration. You’re cutting it even closer with this detour to the Namikaze village.”

Kakashi smirked, the sight causing Sakura to lick her lips. Kakashi’s dark gaze focused on her mouth. “I’m pretty sure the village will wait to inaugurate me until I’m actually there.” He sighed and then stretched out his legs and leaned back on his elbows to stare across the fire at Naruto and Cee’s sleeping figures. “I’m selfish enough to want you both there with me. You and Naruto. But, I wanted to give you more time with your boyfriend and Naruto a chance to meet with Minato’s extended family when we’re so close.”

“Hm. Cee and I broke up,” Sakura said quietly, her gaze shifted towards Cee’s sleeping form. “It is so hard. It’s only been a day and seeing him treat me as just a friend, it’s really messing with me.” She looked back at Kakashi and studied his naked face. He looked so young, but the scar bisecting his eye went down his cheek, it must have cut down into the bone as well as destroying his original eye. It was quite the souvenir for his first jonin mission. As her souvenir on this first jonin mission of hers was a broken heart.

“It’s hard for him too, Sakura. Life as a shinobi is one full of sacrifices.” Kakashi smiled at her sadly. “I’m about to become the Hokage, but even though I love you, I can’t start a war for you.” His dark eyes hardened. “Though, I would certainly finish a war for you.”

Did she hear him right? “Excuse me, did you just say that you love me?”

Kakashi’s face closed off. “Let’s just say, at the end of the battle, when you woke up from the genjutsu and it was so quiet. If we had been the last two people alive on the planet, I would have been okay so long as I had you.” He pulled up his mask and cleared his throat. “You should get some sleep. We leave at first light. We can talk about this later. This isn’t the time.” He gestured towards the two blond shinobi on the other side of the fire.

Sakura had no words. She merely nodded. It was a lot to think about. She turned away from Kakashi and pulled out her bedroll. Instead of laying it out near Naruto and Cee, she laid it out where she sat, next to Kakashi. She never really considered Kakashi in a romantic way, but she cared about him, she loved him too, but as a friend. Though, as he let his guard down around her and she learned about him as a person, maybe that could change?
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OoO

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Sakura
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She stood on the arching bridge over the koi pond, breathing the scent of the wisteria blossoms. The Namikaze clan had welcomed Naruto with open arms. He friend deserved all the familial affection his father’s relatives had to offer. It was hard to equate the social butterfly and renown hero that was Naruto these days with the lonely, troublemaker he’d been back during their days at the Academy.

As she braced her forearms over the railing and stared into the water below at the colorful koi, she felt Cee approach. He said nothing as he stood next to her, just far enough away to not touch, but close enough she could feel the heat of him.

“Your teammates are ready to go,” Cee said. “I asked if I could speak with you once more.”

“Is there any more to say?” Sakura asked, she couldn’t look at him directly, so she focused on his reflection in the rippling water below them. “I’m glad you and Naruto were able to get to know one another. He deserved to meet his family here.”

Cee sighed. “I’m glad to connect with Naruto as well.” He turned towards her, his hand covered hers. “I will treasure the time we shared together, Sakura. I wish things could be different, but they aren’t. Please, at least open your heart to the possibility of finding happiness with someone else.”

Sakura stared at their joined hands for a moment and then turned to face Cee directly. “I want you to be happy too, Cee.”

He smiled sadly at her and then drew her close for a hug. Sakura wound her arms around his waist and pressed her cheek against his chest, listening to his heart. “Can you call me by my name, one last time?”

“I want you to be happy too, Callum,” Sakura whispered. She felt the press of his lips to the crown of her head and then after one last squeeze, he realized her.

“Your friends are waiting. We’ll meet again, Sakura. Safe travels,” Cee murmured. He stayed on the bridge as Sakura walked away, watching with those solemn dark eyes as she walked out of his life.

Kakashi and Naruto waited for her on the porch of the the main cabin. Her pack was slung over Kakashi’s shoulder. Without a word, the three Konoha shinobi set off for their trip back to Konoha. This time, Kakashi took the lead, Sakura the middle position and Naruto in the rear.
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OoO

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Kakashi
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Their party kept a rapid pace during daylight, but he insisted they camp each night. For the most part, Sakura kept up with him and Naruto. She’d started to flag shortly before their break, but Naruto made a clone to carry her. Kakashi had been tempted to ask for a clone himself, but instead ordered them to stop for the night to make camp.

“I really wanted to thank you both for taking the detour to visit the Namikaze clan village.” Naruto dumped the wood he gathered one the stack for their fire. “I’m excited to have family — a cousin on Pa’s side and a cousin on Ma’s side. Cee is a pretty cool guy.”

“He is,” Sakura agreed. She started arranging the logs for a fire, sitting back on her haunches while Kakashi breathed the fire to life with a simple jutsu. Their actions working seamlessly together. “He was a good boyfriend.”

“Yeah, okay, but I just don’t think the two of you would work very well in the long run,” Naruto continued. He covered his head reflexively, as if expecting to be hit by a temperamental Sakura. “Please don’t hit me, Sakura-chan!”

Kakashi pulled out the dinner— packaged bento boxes- they’d brought from the Namikaze clan. He passed them out, but kept quiet. He was curious what Naruto had to say as well.

“Why would you say that?” Sakura asked. “I thought you liked him.” She frowned as she opened the lid to her dinner.”

“I think he was a good boyfriend for you, but I don’t think he’d make a good husband for you,” Naruto continued.

“I’m eighteen, Naruto. I’m not exactly looking to get married anytime soon,” Sakura protested.

“Maybe not, but you’re not the type to stay with a person if it’s not a potential marriage candidate,” Naruto pointed out. He tipped his bento box into his mouth and devoured the contents. The fire crackled around them and silence descended upon their party for a while. “Say, Sakura-chan, where are you going to live when we get back home?” Naruto asked.

“Oh, right, my apartment was destroyed in the Pain attack,” Sakura mused. “I’d rather not stay with my parents. They converted my old childhood bedroom into a sewing room.”

“I’d invite you to stay with me —Captain Yamato made me a three bedroom house, but Sasuke and Sai are already living with me,” Naruto suggested apologetically. “Though, Ino is there a lot these days, spending time with Sai. Captain Yamanto is supposed to build her a house soon since she’s taking over the Yamanaka clan and Sai will move in with her.”

“That sounds a bit crowded right now,” Sakura protested. She loved all four of those friends, but seeing Sasuke on a regular basis would likely be uncomfortable. She wanted to repair that friendship, but she also didn’t want to see him every day. And Naruto and Ino both were rather messy. Maybe Sasuke and Sai balanced that out? Though, Sai’s well-meaning insults would irritated her. “Where’s the house?”

“Hatake lands on the south side of the village,” Kakashi answered. “Alternatively, you could stay with me. My things have already been moved into the Hokage penthouse. There’s plenty of space and it has a very nice kitchen and there’s a garden tub in one of the bathrooms.”

“The Hokage Tower?” Sakura squeaked.

“What? Why didn’t you ask me to move in!” Naruto cried out, mouth opened wide and food falling towards the ground. He quickly moved the bento box under the falling debris to preserve it. “I’m going to be Hokage one day! It would have been so convenient if I already lived there!”

“Because, Sakura is my favorite,” Kakashi answered, sneaking another bite under his mask. He winked at Sakura before he continued with a shrug. “It’s not too far from the hospital and I’ll even let you have access to some of the more restricted scrolls in the Hokage library. There’s tons of books in the penthouse from Tobirama Senju’s personal collection. And the best part — no rent. You’d be able to build up your savings account, maybe invest in some of the local businesses that are being established.” He leaned towards her a bit. “Like your friend Tami’s cafe.”

“You’re asking me to move in with you?” Sakura asked.

“It’s an option,” Kakashi explained. “It’s an economical solution and I’m a tidy roommate.” Sakura had moved in with Cee after only knowing him for a few weeks. She and Kakashi saved the world and knew each other for years. “We’ve shared space together on missions plenty of times.” He smiled at her briefly. “You can make sure I show up to work on time.”

Sakura laughed. “There it is, you want me to serve as your personal wake up call.”

He did in fact, but probably not the way she meant it. His brain certainly went down the gutter. “It will make it easier for us to spar together in the mornings.”

Her cheeks heated up at that and she stared down at her bento box and focused on diligently eating her dinner. “I’ll consider it.”
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OoO

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Sakura
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It took them four days to cover the distance, stopping only briefly to rest. She appreciated the pace, so she didn’t have to think much about who she was leaving behind. Naruto ended up using a clone to carry Sakura part of the way while she napped. Kakashi had been able to keep up nearly as well as Naruto, which had surprised her. He truly was worthy of being the Rokudaime. The Sharingan transplant really must have been taxing his chakra network even more severely than she’d realized.

She was looking forward to a nice, hot shower. She still hadn’t given Kakashi an answer about where she would stay. She’d stay with her parents that night, keep things simple. However, when they stepped through the gates of Konoha, she was swarmed by friends.

Ino Yamanaka threw her arms around Sakura immediately. Both Sai and Sasuke flanked the blond heiress. “You’re not allowed to leave me, Forehead! My best friend thinks she can go off and live in another country? Really!”

“It’s good to see you too, Ino,” Sakura murmured, her eyes filling with tears.

As soon as Ino released Sakura, Sasuke’s hand was on Sakura’s shoulder, squeezing it tenderly and his dark eyes shone with relief. “Thank you, Sakura. Just— for everything. Thank you. I’m glad you’re home.”

Before Sakura could respond, she was pulled into the overly generous bosom of Tsunade Senju. “My Apprentice!” She looked over Sakura’s shoulders at Kakashi and Naruto. “My retirement plan!” She held Sakura at arm’s length after that, raking her golden brown eyes over Sakura. “Party at the newly renovated Senju estates tonight — to celebrate your return!”

“I was planning to visit with my parents this evening,” Sakura hesitated, her eyes skimming over everyone present. It was all the survivors of the Konoha rookies, several staff from the hospital. “I need to wash off this travel grit.”

“Yes, of course,” Tsunade answered. “I’ll send an escort to you later then.  Or my replacement will.  Whatever!” She tilted her head to look at Sakura. “Where are you staying? You can stay with Shizune and I if you’d like.”

Genma stood next to Shizune and cleared his throat, catching Sakura’s eye. “And me of course,” he added. “And lots of booze.”

“My Rival! You have brought home our precious blossom!” Gai wheeled his wheelchair to Kakashi, tears streamed down his face.

Sakura began to be overwhelmed by her friends, one after another, several offers to stay with them. This community was something she had realized how much she missed it until it was right in her face. She was home, with her friends.

She caught Kakashi’s gaze, he’d stepped back from the crowd, letting Gai and Genma converse with him on either side. Naruto had his arm flung around Sasuke’s neck. Ino and Sai were canoodling. “I’m actually staying with Kakashi.”

Tsunade stopped talking immediately and scowled. She pulled out a wad of money from her inner pocket and practically flung it at Genma. Shizune stepped between the two, trying to act as peacekeeper.

“There was a running bet about whom you would live with when you returned,” Sasuke explained, standing at Sakura’s side, his right arm warm against hers. “Can we talk later?”

Sakura nodded and then caught Kakashi’s eye. He looked relieved by her decision. “We have all the time in the world to catch up, Sasuke. I’m not going anywhere.”

“Yes!” Naruto threw himself at Sakura again, wrapping her up in a bear hug and lifting her from the ground a few inches.

“Naruto, we’ve spent the last week together.” Sakura laughed at the absurdity. “Why are you so excited?”

He drew back, his arms still around her waist with a radiant smile on his face and tears shimmering in his bright sky-blue eyes. “Because if you didn’t come back, I wouldn’t have my best friend here! I’m so grateful, Sakura-chan.”

Then Kakashi was there, his familiar gloved hands with the long, pale dextrous fingers pulled Naruto off Sakura. “Can I escort you to your parents’ house?”

“Yes,” Sakura agreed with a nod. She closed her eyes tight for a moment, willing away her tears. As she opened them and looked over her friends once more, almost every one of them had eyes shining with emotion.

“In my village, ninja are allowed to cry,” Tsunade announced. “It’s good for the spirit.” She then broke up the crowd and Sakura left alongside Kakashi, walking at a sedate pace towards the civilian district. The entire center of Konoha had been rebuilt after the decimation from Pain’s attack.

Konoha had to repeatedly be rebuilt over the last two decades — the night of Naruto’s birth and the nine-tails attack, the Sound invasion, and Pain’s destruction. As they walked, their packs slung comfortably over their shoulders, Kakashi pointed out the new constructions, explained which businesses chose to rebuild and which decided to retire.

He didn’t mention the fact that she agreed to be his roommate. She didn’t bring it up.

“I’ll arrange for Naruto and Sasuke to escort you to the party,” Kakashi said, once her parents' house came into view. “Do you want to move in to the penthouse afterwards? Or do you want a couple of days? There are plenty of rooms at the Senju estate if you just want to stay the night there tonight.”

“I’m not sure I want to be around so many people. I’m actually feeling a little overwhelmed from everyone at the gates,” Sakura admitted. She glanced up at Kakashi, only to find his dark eyes steady on her. “I have a trunk with the things I was able to salvage from my apartment stored here. Maybe you could take it back with you?”

“Of course,” Kakashi agreed, his eyes crinkling at the corners slightly in a smile instead of that exaggerated closed-crescent smile of his. “I promise, I’m a very tidy roommate.”

“What about your ninken?” Sakura asked.

“They mostly stay in their own realm, but I do have eight doggy beds — just in case,” Kakashi answered with a shrug. “They’ve gotten me through a lot of rough times.”

“Maybe we can have them around the place?” Sakura suggested.

“They’d love that,” Kakashi agreed.

“Sakura!” Mebuki and Kizashi Haruno stood on the family’s front porch, large smiles on their faces. Sakura soon found herself smothered in her family’s loving embrace, Kakashi standing a fair distance away, leaning on the porch railing. “Lord Hatake,” Mebuki said, dipping her head respectfully, Kizashi did the same.

“Mah, don’t mind me, Mr and Mrs Haruno,” Kakashi rumbled. “I’m just here to help Sakura.”

“I’ll be right back,” Sakura promised, stepping inside her childhood home. “Kakashi will be carrying my storage trunk to my new place,” Sakura explained. “Can I stay here for a few hours, clean up?”

“Yes, Sakura! You can stay as long as you’d like,” Mebuki promised. “Unfortunately, your room….,” she trailed off.

“It’s okay, Mama,” Sakura assured her. “I’ll be living with a friend. They promised me a garden tub.” And she did not want tiny material fibers flaring up her sinuses and irritating her eyes. She picked up her dark green trunk and carried it with chakra enhanced strength. It was fairly heavy. Would Kakashi even be able to carry it?

He was still waiting on the porch, back braced on the rail, staring at the neighbors piddling in their front yards. Sakura set the trunk on the wooden planks and joined him at the railing. It was a pretty sight, the cherry blossom trees were in full colorful bloom with the spring season. It was even more beautiful than the wisteria blooms, because this was her namesake. This was home.

“Thanks for walking me,” Sakura said quietly. “And for the offer of a place to stay.” She braced her hip against the rail to stare at Kakashi directly. “Are we going to talk about that little confession you made at camp?”

“Nope, not right now anyway.” Kakashi turned his head towards her, the gentle breeze ruffled his silver locks. “You know how I feel. I don’t need an answer. I’m just glad you’re home. Your village needs you. Your parents need you. Your friends need you.” His gaze softened, almost seemed to sparkle. “I need you.” He stepped away from the rail and crouched to pick up the trunk. He grunted with the effort.

Sakura laughed. “Sorry, it’s a bit heavy.”

Kakashi nodded and rubbed his chin thoughtfully. Then he did a series of familiar seals and two clones popped into existence. The clones picked up the handle on either side of the trunk.  They both glared at Kakashi, but remained obedient to the task.

Sakura’s mouth ran dry. Without Kakashi’s hitai-ate covering half his face and in his new, more flattering black uniform, seeing three of him was enough to give a girl a heart attack. “I’ll see you at the party.”

“I’ll see you at home later,” Kakashi answered before he and his clones left. They vanished onto the rooftops.

“Sakura, come inside,” Mebuki gently invited. “I have fresh toiletries and some newly laundered towels waiting for you in the bathroom. I’ll make you a snack too. Your father and I can’t wait to hear about your adventures!"

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Chapter Text

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Kakashi
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When Tsunade moved out of the Hokage penthouse, it had been to move into the verifiable mansion that Tenzo created. Now, war tended to breed strange bedfellows, Kakashi remembered this from the first war he survived.

Things had certainly changed during his time in Mist.

He’d gone to pick Sakura up from her parents’ house, show her around their new shared space and then they would go to the joint party at the Senju estates together. It was supposed to be a celebration of Team Seven. It was a combination of Sakura’s welcome home, Sasuke’s pardon, Kakashi’s promotion and of course, the hero of Konoha — Naruto.

Kakashi has survived torture and interrogations during his time in Anbu, however, having Sakura wander around his new home, their new home, had him on edge like he hadn’t been in years.

“This place is huge!” Sakura called out, running to stare back at him from the doorway of the library. “Tobirama’s personal library?”

“Most of it,” Kakashi answered. “The more dangerous journals are sealed within the back storage room within the Hokage office.” He may have already taken a stroll through that cramped space which was definitely a fire hazard. Hiruzen must have either been foolish or had nerves of steel to puff away at his pipe in a place as combustable as the Hokage office.

Sakura wandered off again, this time opening the cabinets in the bathroom with the garden tub. No doubt she was discovering the plethora of bath salts Kakashi had sent Yamato to purchase. His old teammate was looking forward to his promotion as Kakashi’s head Hokage bodyguard, even if it meant running errands like getting bath salts for Kakashi’s love interest.

That familiar pink head of hair peaked out from the doorway of the bathroom. Sakura held out a bottle of salts with the stopper removed and Kakashi caught a whiff of the Ocean Breeze sent in the little light blue crystals. “This is my favorite. I’ve only visited the beach once when I was a kid, but it is one of my favorite memories with my parents.”

“I’m glad you like it,” Kakashi murmured, smiling softly. “Maybe one day you’ll take our your children there.” Thankfully, Sakura didn’t seem to catch his slip of the tongue. He’d only just barely started to understand his feelings for Sakura when they’d been forced apart for the past half-year. He thought maybe when he traveled to Cloud to escort her home, that he’d realize his feelings had been blown out of proportion between his fantasies and reality.

That wasn’t the case.

Sure, he’d been incredibly jealous about her relationship with the foreign shinobi. However, the moment Kakashi and Sakura sparred together, it had felt so natural and no one existed in the world, but the two of them. The banter, the teasing, the easy affection — it was a special bond he had never shared with a woman.

Maybe it had something to do with his upcoming promotion to Hokage, or having survived past the age of thirty, but he couldn’t help but think about the future — his future. He wanted Sakura in that future. And if he could even see a future beyond serving as Hokage, he’d like to travel and explore life outside of the military, and if the Hatake clan didn’t die with him, wouldn’t that be something?

“I’m curious what exactly Master Tsunade bet on earlier today,” Sakura mused, leaving the bathroom and making her way to the den. She flopped onto the couch and stretched out her legs, resting her slipper covered feet on the coffee table. She wiggled her toes and smiled down at the fuzzy house slippers. “By the way, these are adorable.”

Kakashi sauntered towards her and sat next to her on the couch, stretching his long legs out beside hers. He knocked his fuzzy light grey dog slippers playfully against her fuzzy white rabbit ones. “Every jonin should have fuzzy house slippers.”

“Is this a Team Seven tradition?” Sakura asked.

“We could make it one,” Kakashi offered. “I think a fox for Naruto, unless that’s too on the nose.”

“It’s perfect. Sasuke should have black cat fuzzy slippers. Oh, and if I see a pink pig set I am definitely buying that for Ino,” Sakura added.

“Shizune has pink pig ones,” Kakashi assured her. “I noticed when I helped her move into the new Senju estate a few weeks ago.” He laid his arm across the back of the couch, tantalizingly close to touching Sakura’s shoulders. “Tenzo, I mean Yamato, gave them to her as a housewarming gift.”

“Captain Yamato?” Sakura arched her pale eyebrow and settled deeper into the comfort of the couch, her shoulders just barely brushing against Kakashi’s extended arm. “Is there a story there?”

“They’ve been dating for at least four months,” Kakashi answered.

“What? I thought Shizune-senpai and Genma were a couple!” Sakura turned towards Kakashi more fully, tucking her legs up under her body and her knees just pressed against Kakashi’s thigh.

Was she doing this to him on purpose? Kakashi could feel his body heating up with the proximity. “They were, but they broke up — amiably.” Kakashi leaned closer to Sakura, enjoying this bit of gossip. Honestly, it had been years since he’d had someone to gossip (Master Minato and Itachi had been such gossip queens!) with and he was a ninja that gathered so much intel! “He and Lady Tsunade are a couple.”

Sakura’s mouth fell open and she gaped at Kakashi in complete astonishment.

Kakashi gently prodded her jaw shut with his index finger under her chin. “It’s true. I almost didn’t believe him when he told me, but I’ve seen them together. They work.”

“Wow.” Sakura ran her palms over her face and shook her head. When she looked back at Kakashi, it was with laser-focused jade eyes. Her eyes settled upon his mask-covered lips. “We’re living together. Are you really going to wear your mask around your home?”

He’d already shown her his face. Frankly, he hadn’t had a single headache since he uttered his declaration of love, not that Sakura seemed to have registered what he actually said. He rubbed his hand over his jaw and then slowly eased his black mask down his face, letting it gather at his neck. Sakura’s scent almost threatened to overwhelm him — she smelled like the floral green wash and shampoo she used to favor from before they’d all been issued standard, scent blocking war ration soap. Whenever Kakashi ventured through a lush meadow of flowers just outside the forest, he thought of Sakura.

“Kakashi, I—,” Sakura started, but there was a loud knock at the front door to the penthouse.

A quick, apologetic grin spread across Kakashi’s lips and he felt a certain smug satisfaction at the blush that colored Sakura’s cheeks. “Excuse me. I had the Anbu on guard duty keep away visitors and give us space at least until it was time to head to the party.” He secured his mask into its proper place. He didn’t mind Sakura seeing, but that didn’t mean he was willing to show just anyone.

When Kakashi opened the door, the masked Anbu operative was clearly Sai. The younger man’s dark eyes shifted over Kakashi towards Sakura. “I’m to ensure the punctuality of the guests of honor.” His head angled down to their feet. “I, uh, like lions. And Ino would really like pigs.”

Ah, so he’d been listening, likely making sure he didn’t interrupt anything. Sai was an observant young man, socially awkward, but observant. He was also part of the extended Team Kakashi, so knew both Kakashi and Sakura decently well. “I’ll be on the lookout for a pair of house slippers for you too,” Kakashi promised.

Sai nodded, his face hidden behind his Anbu mask, but likely it would have been emotionless.

Sakura draped her arms over the back of the couch and smiled at Sai. “I’m not sure I’ve ever seen you in your full Anbu gear.”

Sai cleared his throat. “Whatever do you mean? I am a mysterious, nameless Anbu soldier.”

“Step inside,” Kakashi ordered.

Obediently, Sai entered the residence, his dark eyes flickered around the large quarters, mapping it out like the skilled shinobi he was. He latched the door closed behind him.

“Mask off for a moment, future Hokage orders.” Kakashi waited for Sai to comply and then studied his face. If anyone could read underneath an emotionless facade, it was Kakashi. “Are you seriously going to be on duty during the party?” Kakashi asked. “You’re part of the team that’s being celebrated.”

Sai shifted his weight. “I volunteered,” he admitted. “This way I can be around everyone, but not have to worry about upsetting anyone when I say the wrong things.” He rubbed the back of his head and grimaced. “Hag isn’t the only one to pack a mean punch. The Godaime and Beautiful can be quite fierce.”

Kakashi’s own smile under his mask wasn’t pretty. He laid his hand over Sai’s shoulder and squeezed enough to bruise the younger man. “If you call Sakura that one more time I will do much worse than sealing your tongue.”

Sai swallowed hard, his Adam’s apple bobbed nervously. The young man wasn’t known to fear much, but being nervous of the three aforementioned women and the Rokudaime was simply common sense. “Should I call her Bunny?”

“No. That’s my nickname. You may call her by her name or her position,” Kakashi answered. He glanced back at Sakura. “Unless you have a preference, Hospital Director Haruno?”

“Director?” Sakura gasped, her jewel-toned eyes widened. “Really?”

Kakashi nodded. “If you want it, that is.” He released Sai’s shoulder.

She nodded. “Maybe one day.” She shifted her attention back to Sai. “Call me Sakura and while you’re at it, call Naruto and Sasuke by their real names too.”

Sai frowned and he literally pouted. “Do I have to?” He asked quietly, rubbing his bruised shoulder.

Kakashi did find it amusing when Sai called Naruto Dickless and Sasuke Traitor. However, Sasuke now had a full pardon and was proving himself every single day and really Konoha had betrayed his family first. And Kakashi had washed up at the river enough times that he knew Naruto was rather generously endowed. “Yes, stop calling them by those insulting nicknames too.” He gestured towards the mask. “You can resume your duty.”

“Wait, Sai, let me heal your shoulder,” Sakura offered.

Kakashi felt it was very mature of him that he allowed Sakura to heal the younger man.  

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OoO

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Sakura
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Once Sakura, Kakashi, and their Anbu guard detail arrived at the Senju estate, she’d been immediately snatched up by Master Tsunade and Shizune. They began to discuss in earnest plans for the hospital expansion. When Tsunade floated the idea of Sakura being hospital director, she deferred such a promotion. She wasn’t even twenty, but a co-director position with Shizune or a vice-director would be something she could get behind. Sakura and Shizune both adored their master, but Tsunade was not the best at organization.

As it was, Shizune was practically the hospital director in all, but title anyway. Sakura wanted a chance to build up the mental health field alongside Ino.

“I wouldn’t mind serving as liaison with the other hidden villages,” Sakura added. She’d done well in Cloud, even if she’d been a little distracted by her lover.

“Ah, I don’t need a war developing because of all the broken hearts you leave behind in the other villages,” Tsunade scoffed. “Or for our Rokudaime to spend every day fretting about you when you’re out of the village. He’d only been back from Mist for a few weeks and he’s been nearly impossible with worry.”

Sakura really had been living in a bubble these last few months. She’d been so focused on her own mission, that she’d not really thought about how her friends would feel about her absence. She’d been so absorbed into her whirlwind romance, she’d not given any of them much thought. She grimaced at the realization. That wasn’t healthy. The next time she had a partner, she’d make sure she didn’t lose herself in whomever he was — she needed to also maintain her focus on her career and not neglect her friends and family.

She smiled at her two mentors. “So, I want to hear more about your relationships with Genma and Captain Yamato.”

Tsunade grinned and Shizune blushed. “Drink up your sake, Sakura. I have a tale for you! One of romance, second loves, and a determined bodyguard.”

“Yamato was in the dream I had when I was imprisoned in the cocoon,” Shizune explained. “I have never really thought of him in a romantic way before and Genma and I had parted as friends even before the war. I saw the longing stares he had for Lady Tsunade. It reminded me so much of my uncle.”

“And the man has stamina!” Tsunade added, knocking back half a jug of sake, her face flushed with liquor. “That mouth of his…,” she trailed off and giggled drunkenly. She cleared her throat and gestured towards Kakashi in the back corner standing near Gai and Yamato. “Roommates with Hatake, huh? That man managed to deflect the Mizukage’s advances and fretted about your safe return the whole time.”

“Honey, are you cheating?” Genma asked, suddenly appearing and wrapping his muscular arms around Tsunade, just above her bosom. His signature senbon was tucked behind his arm and he pressed his cheek against Tsunade’s.

“Just stating my observations,” Tsunade pouted.

A commotion of greetings followed by Naruto’s boisterous voice drew Sakura’s attention towards the front door. Naruto and Sasuke had arrived, both wearing prosthetic arms. Naruto had a smile plastered across his tanned face while Sasuke looked like he swallowed something sour as he let himself be dragged along. The frown on his face vanished into a faint smirk when he caught Sakura’s eye.

“If you’ll excuse me,” Sakura murmured before starting her way towards her teammates, not waiting for a response.
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OoO

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Kakashi
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He stared down at the cigar in his hand unsure what to do with it, because he sure as hell wasn’t about to smoke it. One, he’d have to pull down his mask. And two, with his sensitive nose the smell would give him a terrible headache.

“And so the twins are expected in four months,” Gai continued with a fresh stream of tears. “The youthful Mizukage will be such a wonderful mother!”

“And you’re okay with her having full custody of your children?” Kakashi asked. It would kill him to have children and not be able to be part of their lives. He never knew his own mother and his father had died when he had been so young. If Kakashi had children, he wanted to dote on them and comfort them. Hell, if they didn’t want to be shinobi, he’d support that too! He’d make sure their world stayed at peace through trade alliance rather than shadow assassinations and fear. He had a lot of work to do for his theoretical children.

Gai patted the armrest of his wheelchair. “It is hard for me to travel and I have no doubt that Mei will raise our children to be youthful.” He flashed Kakashi a trembling smile. “I did ask her to marry me, but she refused. Said she didn’t want to be tied down. Though, she said I could live with her in Mist, if I wanted, as her permanent boyfriend. Maybe the Rokudaime would allow it.”

Kakashi’s heart broke a little for his friend and himself. He would be saddened if Gai left Konoha for Mist, but also he wanted his friend to be happy. Mist was one of the more egalitarian societies. Mei was leader of that village and obviously wouldn’t abandon her country. Gai was no longer active duty, so it wouldn’t be impractical for him to transfer.

Gai turned his unlit cigar over in his hands. “Mei told me that she’d been in love with two men in her life. One was Zabuza, whom you killed. The other was Kisame, whom I am responsible for his death. As such, out of respect for them, her only options in partner would be one of us.” He looked up from the cigar. “Your heart is obviously spoken for, my Rival.”

Kakashi was aware it would be hypocritical if he allowed Gai to move to Mist when he denied Sakura the chance to live in Cloud. Though, to be fair, he wasn’t in love with Gai and a retired shinobi moving to an allied village was different than the strongest kunoichi of her generation doing so. And once again, Kakashi needed to fortify Konoha’s strengths. He couldn’t do it all on his own and the idea of Sakura working at his side made him hopeful.

“We’ll figure something out,” Kakashi promised vaguely. He centered his attention back to Sakura and her genin teammates. He smiled faintly. How funny life was that the woman born of the civilian parents was a jonin while her two god-tier teammates were still genin?
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OoO

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Sakura
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It was surprisingly easy to fall into a routine back in Konoha. Living with Kakashi had been an easy adjustment as well. So far, they’d been nothing but friendly with one another. He was also extremely fastidious and clean. Sakura had never been a fan of laundry, but it seemed that Kakashi loved folding towels and linens. He offered to do her personal laundry as well, but she didn’t feel they were to that level of intimacy just yet. The idea of his hands on her panties sent a thrill down her spine she tried not to dwell on.

Though, he no longer wore his mask around her when they shared meals — breakfast of dinner. He was really cute when he let his guard down, which was happening more and more often.

Kakashi’s inauguration as Rokudaime went smoothly and the whole of Team Seven had stood at his side. His sentimental speech about the Yondaime had everyone fighting back tears. He might be a space holder until the hero of the war Naruto Uzumaki could take over the mantle, but he would do his best to lead Konoha and the Allied Shinobi Villages into am era of peace and prosperity. He wanted to promote trade between the lands, make sure everyone had access to proper medical care — physical and mental.

The only thing that worried Sakura were strange ocular migraines that seemed to attack Kakashi out of no where. He never complained, but the pallor and sweat on his brow were evidence enough. Sakura drew back her hands from his temples, frowning as she wasn’t able to alleviate the pain or improve his vision. She wanted to consult with Master Tsunade, but Kakashi begged off for now.

“Let’s have that dinner,” Kakashi suggested. “I have something I’d like to give you and we still haven’t had our Icha Icha book club discussion.”

“A gift? You have already given me free room and board, business investment advice, adorable bunny house slippers and one-on-one sparring sessions with the Rokudaime,” Sakura pointed out. She brushed her palms over the thighs of her black cotton undershorts. “What more could a girl ask for?” She thought about her latest letter from her ex-boyfriend. He’d written about some of the programs he’d implemented at the Cloud hospital and about the progress of the mental health initiative. She was eager to write him back, but also felt weird that while it was an informative letter, it had also felt painfully impersonal.

“Mmm,” Kakashi hummed with a mischievous twinkle in his eyes. “I know you’re a fan of tempura. There’s a new restaurant I think you’ll like.”

“But you don’t like fried food,” Sakura countered with a frown. And she’d have to put on real clothes if they left the penthouse. She was quite comfortable in her shorts and sleeveless top.

“They have grilled food as well,” Kakashi assured her. “It’s the best of both worlds.” He leaned back on the couch, long legs outstretched wearing his black sleeveless muscle shirt with the mask pooled around his neck and black sweats. His arms were thicker than she realized when they weren’t hidden in long sleeves. He closed his eyes and tilted his face up towards the ceiling. It gave Sakura a nice view of his strong jaw and she resisted the urge to touch his cheek. “No ramen though, so we shouldn't be interrupted by a certain loud teammate of ours.”

Sakura enjoyed when they had Team Seven meals. Sasuke was really starting to come out of his shell and Naruto was always entertaining, even if he only ever wanted ramen and complained if they ate somewhere else. Yamato, Shizune, Sai, and Ino sometimes joined them as well. When that happened, things could get rowdy around their table. She wasn’t sure, but it did seem that Kakashi tended to hide behind his precious Icha Icha whenever he became overstimulated.

“Or, we could order in,” Sakura suggested. “That way you don’t risk choking while you sneak food under your mask.”

Kakashi’s brow furrowed. “I’ve perfected sneaking food under my mask, thank you very much.”

“It will also be quieter.” Sakura enjoyed eating at restaurants and people watching, but lately she preferred eating at home. While it was amusing to people watch, it wasn’t so nice having everyone staring and gossiping over her. Considering that even Kakashi’s carved figure on the Hokage monument included his mask, she really enjoyed the opportunity to see his beautiful naked face. If she didn’t attract enough interest in public, then the Rokudaime amongst the people certainly did.

“Alright, I’ll place the order under Genin Dash,” Kakashi agreed. He chuckled and rubbed his knuckles over his chest. “You think it will be Naruto again to deliver?”

Sakura smiled at the idea. He was working hard to accomplish a ridiculous amount of D ranked missions lately, hoping to break a record for when he earned his chunin promotion. He thought it would make him look good whenever he became the Nanadaime Hokage.

Kakashi opened up his laptop, —a new creation by the scientific research team —, and submitted their order. “Well then, I suppose now is a good enough time to give you your present.” He stood outside his book case and moved aside a thick tome about shelter construction. He pulled out a dark green velvet pouch with sparkly silver stars embroidered on it.

“Nice hiding spot,” Sakura observed.

“Don’t get any ideas,” Kakashi teased. “I don’t intend to use it again.” He bounced his hand up and down a few times before holding it out towards Sakura. “Open it.”

Sakura plucked it from his hand and pulled the ribbon top open. Nestled inside was a pair of white bangles with runes carved within the stone. “Is this quartz?”

“Moonstone,” Kakashi answered. “Insulates against electricity, so it won’t interfere with chakra usage. It’s a Hatake heirloom. It belonged to my grandmother.”

Sakura held it up to Kakashi’s silvery-white hair. The stones were the same exact shade. “Does your hair color run in the family?”

“Dunno,” Kakashi shrugged, then he yanked down his mask, his full lips pressed together thoughtfully. “My father’s hair was the same as mine, but I never knew anyone else in my family.” His large hand cupped the side of Sakura’s face and then his fingers slipped into her pink strands that were loose about her shoulders. “I’m not sure if you heard me before, when I told you that I loved you, Sakura.” His dark eyes bore into her. “That if there was only one person to survive the end of the world together with — I’d want that person to be you.” He cocked his head to the side and smirked. “And I’d like to know if I had children with you, would they have silver hair or pink hair or a combination?”

“Ka-Kakashi?” Sakura felt her stomach twist in knots.

“Would you consider it? Would you consider me, Sakura?” Kakashi stepped into her space, the heat from his body warming her even through her shirt. “This is me without any masks.”

She nuzzled her cheek against his warm palm, his thumb skimmed over her lower lip and Sakura gently kissed the pad of his finger. Then she pressed her body against him, her soft curves against his hard planes. She gripped the back of his neck, fingers playing with the soft hairs at his nape. She kissed him tentatively, feeling his lips part and his warm breath mingled with hers.

Kakashi’s gripped her hip, his fingers bruising as he deepened the kiss, taking advantage of her sigh to slip his tongue inside her mouth. Sakura felt herself go boneless and it was only Kakashi’s firm grip on her hip and back of her head that held her upright.

They were disrupted by a loud knock on the door.

“That would be dinner,” Kakashi murmured, before kissing her forehead. He released her hip and started to shift past her to answer to knock.

She gripped his wrist, to hold him back. “Leave it at the door, please,” Sakura called out.

“Ah, Sakura-chan! It’s me!” Naruto shouted from the hallway. “What are you doing over here? Are you feeling okay? I can take you home if you want?”

“She’s fine. Leave it outside the door, Naruto. I’ll upgrade this to a B-rank!” Kakashi added.

“Really? Well, feel better, Sakura-chan! I’m sure Kakashi-sensei can take care of you. Drink lots of water! I’m leaving the dinner out here! I’m going! See ya!” Naruto answered before he took off.

“Was that actually him?” Sakura asked, massaging her closed eyes. “I was starting to worry he would invite himself inside.”

“Nah, he knows better. He uses clones for the delivery service and they pop out of existence anytime he tries to bypass my traps. And now there are the Anbu guard that make sure he stays on the right side of the door.” Kakashi used his free hand to create his own clone. The clone’s gaze raked over from Sakura head to toe appreciatively and then flipped off Kakashi while he brought the food inside, safe from being dispelled by the traps. “Where were we?”

“You were about to take me into your bedroom and show me exactly what I’ve been missing in Konoha,” Sakura suggested. She traced her finger over his collarbone, appreciating his firm pectorals. Briefly, she thought about contraception — given her cycle dates they’d need to use condoms or a medical jutsu. She wasn’t on the standard birth control most kunoichi used. It didn’t work on her ever since she unlocked her seal. It wasn’t a sexy conversation, but it was part of it, wasn’t it? “Do you have condoms?”

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OoO

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Kakashi
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“Ah yes.” He shifted his arms under her knees and her back, cradling her against his chest while he lifted her into his lap. Then stood, carrying her bridal-style into the bedroom. He did have condoms, but he didn’t really want to use them with Sakura. He wasn’t sure they would hold up. “So, uh, I feel I should forewarn you about something.”

Sakura arms slipped around his neck and she pressed soft kisses to his throat, up his jaw, to the corner of his mouth. “I’m listening.”

“Are you?” Kakashi’s voice cracked and he cleared his throat. “You know of my contract with the ninken. It’s not happened before, but I’ve also never had such strong feelings for someone before either.”

“You mean you’ve never been in love before?” Sakura asked.

“Yes, that,” Kakashi agreed with a nod. “And when dogs mate — the male knots inside of the female.”

“Your canines are rather pointed,” Sakura observed, toying with the hairs at his nape.

“I know. I, uh, didn’t lose my milk-teeth until after I had my contract with the ninken, so I’m not sure if that’s just how they are or if that happened because of the contract,” Kakashi explained. “So, um, so long as you’re not ovulating, or uh, in heat, it should be fine.” Kakashi wasn’t sure if Sakura knew what he meant about knotting, and he didn’t know for sure if it was a possibility, but he had read in the contract that there were certain canine characteristics the summoner would gain. He’d only had a few lovers over the years, usually uninterested in getting close to anyone even for a short while. They’d all ended in disaster because he’d never opened up to any of them. Some partners had been okay, shinobi’s lives were on the edge of death so often, but one and all, everyone eventually wanted more than he was able to give. Things were different now. Kakashi wanted to give Sakura everything.

Everything was different with Sakura. She knew him better than anyone, but he had to lay it all on the line. Or else, he could very easily lose her before she was ever really his. He was keenly aware that he wasn’t the only person that had fallen in love with her.

He laid her gently on the bed, sitting on the edge, worried he killed the mood given her somber expression.

“So you might knot inside me,” Sakura said quietly. “But you don’t know.” She dug the back of her head into his pillow and sighed. She kicked off her bunny house shoes and then slid her shorts down her legs, revealing a lacy set of pale green underwear that made Kakashi’s mouth go dry. She then sat up to pull off her shirt, tossing it to land on top of the small pile growing on the floor. “Well it is that time of month for me, but I figured we’d just use a condom.”

“I’m not sure condoms will work with a knot,” Kakashi explained with a grimace, eyes focused on her heaving breasts and her toned belly. He leaned over her and kissed her just below her navel, eager to finish unwrapping his lover of her lacy undergarments.

“Ah, the tension would cause it to break,” Sakura mused, arching against his hips. Kakashi crawled on top of her, having his forearms braced on either side of her head. “I am an excellent medic, Kakashi. I can prevent sperm from fertilizing any eggs I might drop.” She laughed. “You're lucky this conversation isn’t killing the mood. Nothing is sexier than trying to solve a problem together.”

Kakash nuzzled his face between her cleavage, sighing against her. Her plan could work, though he was disappointed she was against the idea of having his children.

Warm fingers tangled in his hair and gently lifted his head to look down at her. “Stop spiraling, Kakashi. Once we’re settled into this new stage of our relationship, we can talk about children. I’m not against it.” She smiled up at him. “Especially, if they look like you.”

“Personally, I’d prefer if they take after you,” Kakashi growled, pressing his lips against hers.

“Hm, we’ll just have to wait and see.” Sakura began to fumble with Kakashi’s shirt. “Too many clothes.”

“Let’s solve one problem at a time.” Kakashi’s heart hammered in his chest and for the first time in a long time, he was truly happy.

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Their dinner was stashed away in the refrigerator, but neither made any effort to venture into the kitchen to eat it. Sakura had fallen asleep, her cheek cushioned over his heart while he ran his fingers through the length of her hair. Their legs were tangled up together under his sheets.

While he’d been fully anticipating knotting inside of Sakura, being connected in their intimacy, it hadn’t happened. It had been both a relief and a disappointment. Sakura suspected it was because she interfered with her ovulation or it was simply a baseless worry.

He hadn’t been worried exactly, but excited about the possibility.

He grimaced as another piercing migraine struck behind his eyes. His vision wavered. While he’d confessed his love for Sakura, she’d never voiced her own feelings, though she heavily implied they had a future together. It only made sense. He seemed cursed to lose those that loved him, so maybe it was better if Sakura didn’t love him back.

“Kakashi." Sakura was immediately alert. She hovered over him, cradling his face between her hands. “Look at me.” Green healing chakra leaked into his body.

“It’s not something you can heal with your chakra,” Kakashi explained hoarsely. “It’s something called Star Eye.”

“Star Eye?” Sakura peeled back his eyelids and peered closely into his eyes. “That’s one of those nonsense diseases.”

Kakashi groaned and squeezed his eyes shut once Sakura released him. “It feels pretty real to me.”

“I remember reading about this disease. It happened when someone suffers unrequited love.” Sakura gripped Kakashi’s jaw and he opened his eyes to peer up at her. “You already confessed. I wasn’t sure how I felt, but I care about you, Kakashi. We’ve been through a lot — good and bad, but I know when things are rough, you’ve got my back.” She pressed a kiss over the scar bisecting the left side of his face. “You're my friend and I’m so proud of you.” She kissed him softly on the lips. “And I love you.”

There was no magical chorus in the background or glimmering lights. However, Kakashi’s vision grew more clear and his headache began to diminish.

A soft, sincere smile spread across his lips as he breathed in a sigh of relief.

“That face of yours is a dangerous weapon,” Sakura teased, grinding her pelvis against his. “I almost came just at the sight of that smile.”

Kakashi hardened immediately at those words. He reversed their position so that she was under him. He planned to take his time with her later, kiss every bit of her. Make her come under his tongue and fingers over and over, but right now, he wanted nothing more than to be buried inside.

Sakura gripped his hips and stared up at him, her pupils blown so that only the rim of her green irises were visible. She bucked her hips and directed his tip towards her heat.

He slipped inside of her, buried to the hilt into her sheath. Their bodies rocked together and this time, as he could feel his orgasm building, there was a tight sensation at the base of his cock.

“Oh,” Sakura cried out in surprise as a knot seemed to form between them, sending her over the edge and locking them together as he filled her with ropes of his release.

Kakashi collapsed on top of her, arms wound around her body, holding her close while he stroked her hair, her back, her hips, her glutes, and her thighs.

“We’re going to need to eat after this,” Sakura whispered, her voice hoarse. “And drink. We’ll need energy and hydration before our next round.” She caressed the length of his back, massaging the tension from his muscles where he continued to hold her in a vice grip, worried she’d vanish from his arms. “Relax, Kakashi. I’m not going anywhere. Not without you anyway.”

“Okay.” Kakashi relaxed for the first time in perhaps all his life. Truly let his guard down and felt the knot loosen— not only in his cock, but also the one in his heart.
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Chapter Text

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As a sign of continued peace amongst the Hidden Villages, the Leaf, Sand, Lightning, Mist, and Earth shinobi met in Iron amongst the samurai for the Five Kage Summit. Three years had passed since the last meeting. Only Gaara from Suna and Mei from Kiri remained in charge from the war.

Tsunade had retired within six months of the war. The old man from Iwa finally passed on the torch to his granddaughter. The Raikage was no longer Aye, but Darui had assumed the mantle a few months back.

The Daimyo of Iron had invited the shinobi to stay at his winter lodge, while he was enjoying his summer residence. It wasn’t that the samurai didn’t trust the shinobi, but it was hard for centuries old prejudices to disappear in only a few short years.

Kakashi had naturally asked Sakura to accompany him to the summit. Shikamaru was happy to spend more time with Temari and enjoy a mini-vacation while she visited Suna to help Kankuro during Gaara’s absence. Meanwhile, Shizune had stepped in to help Naruto serve as interim Hokage during Kakashi’s absence.

The journey to Iron had been fairly uneventful — the Rokudaime, his fianceé, and their four-man Anbu guard — which included Yamato, Sasuke, Sai and Yugao. Sakura dumped her bag on the bench in their suite and then threw herself stomach first onto the large bed.

She had almost fallen asleep when she felt the mattress shift under Kakashi’s weight as he stretched out beside her. His warm, familiar hand swept along her hair, calloused fingers threading through the long strands. “So, your ex is here,” Kakashi stated, his tone almost cheerful.

“Hm? Which one? You’re the one that invited Sasuke to be part of our guard,” Sakura answered, her voice muffled by her pillow. She loved the feeling of Kakashi’s hands in her hair. She preferred his hands on her in general.

Kakashi huffed out a laugh. “Fair.” She felt him straddle her, his legs balanced on either side of her hips while his fingers started to twist her hair into an intricate braid. He clucked worriedly. “Your hair will be in knots if leave it loose.”

Sakura sighed into her pillow. This man had the most amazing hands. If she wasn’t so tired, she’d flip over and have him occupy his hands doing something else. And he was so right. When her hair was shorter, she didn’t have a problem with tangles. Ever since she let her hair grow out, if she didn’t braid it at night, it would be in complete disarray in the morning.

“And technically, you and Sasuke never dated,” Kakashi pointed out.

“Not true. We lived a whole married life together when he trapped me in that genjutsu at the end of the war,” Sakura countered. She wasn’t mad about it anymore. It helped knowing the difference between fantasy and real life.

Kakashi’s hands stilled for a moment. He was still quite salty about that. She’d only told him exactly of the dream Sasuke had weaved for her after they’d been a couple for half a year. He cleared his throat and his fingers returned to their braiding. “I’m referring to Cee. He is Raikage Darui’s aide. I don’t have to worry about you dumping me for him, do I?”

His tone might have been light, but it was anything from carefree. Sakura could sense the unease behind his seemingly benign question. It had been a year and a half since she’d last seen Callum. They’d maintained a professional relationship as the heads of the the medical program in their respective villages and a tentative friendship. She valued him so much as a human being and knew the feeling was mutual. However, Kakashi was the person who dwelled in her heart. She also highly doubted that Cee would have been pining for her over the past year. Surely, he’d opened his eyes to the many people within his own village that adored him.

“You’re fine, Kakashi.” Sakura waited until Kakashi finished with her hair and then shifted underneath him so that she faced him, her gaze greedily taking in his handsome, bare face. She smiled up at him and then laid her palm over his heart, feeling the familiar tattoo of it beating against her hand. “We’re fine. And I know you’ve been looking forward to visiting Gai and meeting his daughter.”

Kakashi covered her hand with his own and closed his eyes. He took a deep breath and the tension in his shoulders eased. “I’ll leave Hawk and Ermine to stay with you.” His thunderstorm grey eyes peered back down at her.

Hawk was Sasuke and Ermine was Yugao. She’d enjoy spending time with those two, they could probably play cards together while Yugao shared stories of her first years in Anbu. “I’m still impressed you convinced Hawk to come home. He’s almost always outside the village doing his investigating.”

“Ah, well,” Kakashi murmured, scratching the back his head. “To be honest, he volunteered. He was curious about Cee. Especially considering how important he was to both you and Naruto.” He rolled away from her, tucked his hands behind his head with fingers interlaced and stared up at the ceiling.

Sakura and Sasuke had formed a decent friendship over the past year and he seemed genuinely glad for her and Kakashi. He’d apologized again for treating her feelings so callously and she’d apologized for never truly understanding the pain he’d endured. The rest of Team Seven knew Cee. It made sense that Sasuke would be curious about the Cloud shinobi. And since Lord Aye wasn’t at the summit, Sasuke wouldn’t cause an international incident if he was present.

As Sakura’s mind drifted, she came to a sudden realization. “Wait, I just realized — if Temari is helping Kankuro in Suna, who did Gaara bring as his aid?” Sakura propped herself up on her elbow to peer down at Kakashi. Would the kazekage have brought Baki with him? Or Matsuri— the young woman he apprenticed?

“Ah, the other reason I brought Hawk along,” Kakashi admitted. He lifted one of his hands and cupped the side of Sakura’s face, his thumb gently brushed over her lower lip. “Your other ex is here. Well, your ex-stalker at least. Sasori of the Red Sands is Gaara’s aid. Apparently, the penalty for his past crimes was death and since he’d already been killed, by you, his debt to society has been considered paid.”

That was all sorts of terrifying, but was it really surprising? Naruto had convinced Gaara more than anyone else to adopt his overly optimistic motto of befriending everyone and giving everyone a second chance. And with Lady Chiyo’s absence, Suna was in need of an expert in the poisons. Though, that did mean the mysterious head of Suna she’d been corresponding with over the past year — had been none other than Sasori!

“Don’t think about it too much,” Kakashi suggested. He flipped them abruptly, hands on Sakura’s hips and behind her shoulders to reverse their position, until he hovered above. He nuzzled his face against her throat, sucking and nipping right over the pulse point of her carotid, surely leaving a violet bruise in his wake.

There was a sharp knock on the door followed by two familiar chakra flares. With a sigh, Kakashi rolled off the bed, secured the mask at his throat back over his face, and answered the door to let in Hawk and Ermine. “I’ll be back in about two hours,” Kakashi promised before heading out with Yamato and Sai flanking him.

Yugao and Sasuke took off their white animal masks once they secured the room after Kakashi left. Yugao sat cross-legged with Sakura on the bed and Sasuke pulled up a chair to sit next to Sakura. Yugao pulled out a deck of cards and began to shuffle.

“So, Sasori is here, apparently,” Sakura announced once Yugao began to deal the cards, the love bite Kakashi had given her already healed. She and Sasuke were friendly now, no need to rub salt on the wound.

Sasuke picked up the cards with his prosthetic hand, becoming more dextrous with it each passing day. Sakura had been the one to help him with the physical therapy and was especially proud of his progress. They’d used Hashirama cells for his arm, but she’d been working with Shizune to replicate cell growth in a lab based on a person’s DNA for other amputee victims. There were only so many Hashirama cells and most people didn’t have compatible DNA for it. You basically needed to be a Senju, Uchiha, or Uzumaki to accept those particular cells without dire consequence.

Thank you, Madara, for paving the way in that line of research.

“He won’t be a problem,” Sasuke murmured. “You killed him before.” He smirked. “You can do it again. I’ll help you destroy the evidence. Won’t even be ash left behind.” He curled his hand into a fist.

“I fought him before,” Sakura clarified. “He let Lady Chiyo and I defeat him. I want’t strong enough then to truly beat him.”

“Talk-no-jutsu is a Team Kakashi speciality,” Yugao teased. “He should have tried that with Team Ro. Nobody ever listens to Yamato or me.”

“Or I could drop him off in a far off dimension,” Sasuke suggested with a shrug. “I’m flexible and you’re creative, we can come up with something.” Sasuke laid out the winning hand.

Yugao pouted as Sasuke collected his winnings. “Itachi was more fun to play against,” Yugao grumbled.

“Why was that?” Sasuke asked, his dark eyes curious. It was nice that he could talk about his brother now. Kakashi, Yamato, and Yugao had all been teammates with Itachi on Ro and it was nice to hear bits and pieces about him before Itachi had been ordered to destroy the Uchiha clan.

“He’d let me win sometimes,” Yugao explained.

“Heh, I doubt that,” Sasuke argued. “He was a terrible liar.” He smirked at Yugao and then his smirk faded into a frown. “Or too good of a liar.”

Sakura laid her hand over Sasuke’s forearm and squeezed gently. “I can’t claim to have known your brother, having only met him briefly during battle. However, I know that I’m proud of the man you are today.”

The soft smile Sasuke flashed her was genuine. “Thanks, Sakura. I still have work to do and your support has been appreciated.”

“So do you think Gai and the Mizukage’s baby has a super huge set of lungs?” Yugao asked. “I bet she wails so much ears ring. I sure hope she looks like Lady Mei and not Gai.” Her shoulders shook with a quiet laugh.

Sakura still couldn’t quite imagine the voluptuous, red-haired kage having a baby with Gai Might. From what Kakashi had told her, it seemed like her true love had been Zabuza, though the Akatsuki’s Kisame had been another person she’d cared for deeply in the past. Now that Sakura herself had felt love for three different men, though in different ways, she could relate to the mizukage.

“So long as she’s loved, that’s what matters,” Sakura answered. “So long as the children of this generation are allowed to be children, then it will make it all worth it.”
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“It’s good to see you, Cee,” Sakura greeted, her smile only a little forced. She was happy to see Callum, but also the reunion was bittersweet. Part of her felt like she betrayed him now that she’d found love with her fiancé.

“It’s always good to see you, Sakura,” Cee answered. His dark eyes darted past her briefly, focused on Kakashi. The Rokudaime was in conversation with the Kazekage Gaara. “Assuming that Lord Kakashi isn’t blind, it seems you were receptive to his feelings.”

Sakura studied her former lover. “You knew about the Star Eye disease?” How would he have noticed? The two had only been around each other for a very short time. It had taken her much longer to realize something was wrong with Kakashi.

“One love-sick man can recognize another,” Cee murmured. His dark gaze fell upon the ring on her left hand and the bangles on her wrists. “I am happy for you, Sakura. Truly. I only ever wanted you to be happy.” He smiled faintly. “I’m grateful for the time you deemed me a worthy enough suitor for your affections.”

“Cee,” Sakura started, unsure of what to say.

He held up his index finger, a plea for silence. “Darui is now the Raikage. Kumo is different than when you left it a year and a half ago.” He smiled faintly. “I go by my true name. Callum Namikaze. The kunoichi are treated the same as the male shinobi. It’s almost a different culture now. Sakura, you were part of what brought about the change. Honestly, I feel you would like Kumo much more now than when you were last there.” His eyes flickered towards Kakashi briefly before settling back on her. “Though, I have a feeling you won’t be visiting to see for yourself.”

“I’m guessing Raikage Darui would be more receptive to international relationships,” Sakura mused. The swordsman was a decent man, not bigoted like his predecessor.

Callum nodded. “If you’re sure you’re happy, I’ll never bring it up again, Sakura.” Unspoken was the promise that if she wasn’t happy, she’d have a home with him.

“I’m happy and he treats me well,” Sakura answered, caring about Cee too much to offer him false hope. She wasn’t going to leave a good man grasping at straws when he should be focusing his efforts on a tangible happiness. Konoha was a place, her true home was Kakashi. She noticed Callum deflate just a bit. “I need you to open yourself up to the possibility of loving again. You’re too wonderful of a man to not share that heart of yours with another.” She glanced back towards Darui again, or more specifically towards the white-haired woman sitting next to him- he’d brought two aides. She recognized the longing on the other woman’s face when her eyes landed on Cee. “Maybe someone a little closer to home.”

“Maybe I will,” Callum answered with an easy smile. The smile faded once Kakashi stood behind Sakura, the heat from his body warming her spine. His strong, calloused hands rested comfortably on her hips. “Lord Rokudaime.”

“Doctor Namikaze,” Kakashi answered, squeezing Sakura’s waist gently. “Raikage Darui had shared with me the many changes of Kumo. You are always welcome as a guest in Konoha. You have always been a friend to my fiancée and Naruto has found such peace since you’ve included him in your clan activities.”

“I take pleasure in bringing even small amounts of joy into the valued heroes of the war,” Cee answered, his eyes steady on Sakura’s. He dipped his head politely. “If you’ll excuse me.”

Sakura watched as he sauntered back to Cloud’s side of the table. She still cared for Cee, but the ardor was no longer present. Only one man made her heart race and made the world brighter.

“Shall we take our seats?” Kakashi offered, releasing her hips. “We’re next to Suna.”

Sakura glanced at the table and found Sasori looking her way, a casual wave of his fingers and smug smile on his taciturn face. Gaara was next to him and looked incredibly sheepish for the leader of a nation.

Sakura looked back at Kakashi, glancing at him over her shoulder. He frowned as he stared at her throat. Self consciously, she traced her fingers over the flawless skin where he’d bitten her. “I couldn’t very well walk around with a giant love bite in front of the leaders of the shinobi world.”

A faint smile tugged at Kakashi’s lips. He started for their chairs and Sakura followed after. He pulled out her chair for her and together they sat. He leaned close to her, his warm breath tickled the shell of her ear. “I’ll be sure to leave evidence in less conspicuous places later tonight.”

“Promises, promises,” Sakura murmured, but her cheeks were flaming hot.
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FIN