Sakura grunted as she carried a stack of lumber over to Naruto, who hammered away at the flooring of the Bridge. Sweat slipped down the sides of her head and dripped off of her chin, into her now fully developed breast. After about five years of stunned growth, she'd finally grew into a perfect B cup. She was pleased, but now she had trouble taping them down for missions.

She gave an exhausting sigh as she dropped the lumber on the side of Naruto's working station. He looked over briefly before continuing his work.

"Thanks Sakura." He stresses as the girl uses her back hand to wipe the sweat from her brow. It's been two days since they've arrived and they've been helping nonstop. Late nights and early mornings.

The girl pursed her lips together for a smile. "Nostalgic, isnt it?" She hums.

A small smile tugs on Naruto's lips. "Yeah, it is." Naruto looks up, his eyes scanning his surroundings. Images of he and Sasuke protecting Sakura and the contrustor of the bridge from the likes of Zabuza & Haku. He could see Sasuke risking his life for him. He could see himself changing when he thought something drastic had happend to his friend. Feeling the warmness in his heart after he broke someone like Zabuza down to his last. Those old memories that they thought were their last days, trickling their way back into Naruto's mind.

"Even then you and Sasuke had the brains and strength to take on Jounin Level ninja." Sakura smirks leaning back on the railing of the bridge. Her head tilts back, forcing her pink locks to cascade down her back as always. Her eyes glazed over as she looks into the height of the afternoon sky. "I'm so proud of the ninja you two have become."

Naruto felt himself blushing. Sure he's gotten compliments from women around the village—even his friends, but to gain such from someone like Sakura meant alot to him. She used to be someone he admired romantically. Not just to piss Sasuke off, but because she was cute. Becoming her teammate made him realize that it was more to a woman than just her looks. Granted, Sakura had her moments where Naruto knew he was being treated wrong, and she apologized for such and showed him through her actions that she was indeed sorry for anything offensive she could've done or said in the past. Sakura has always been there for him. She was the first to cry when she thought he was dead. She saved his life countless times. She's talked to him and made him see things in a different light—she even opened up to him about Sasuke. And that's where their companionship blossomed.

"You're doing it again Sakura." Naruto grumbles as he continues to hammer away.

The girl giggles before tucking the skirt she wore into her as she crouched down to Naruto's level. Her emerald irises shimmering as she stares at her best friend. She watches as he tries his hardest to concentrate on the task at hand—his eyes narrowed and lips pressed into a thin line. Sakura knew the boy wanted to look at her as well, but he was trying his damned hardest not to she give him that.

A smirk fell on her lips as she tilted her head to the side. Her arms resting on her thighs as she balanced herself on her toes.

"I'm just saying the truth." She coos. "You and Sasuke have always been destined for greatness. I may have underestimated you in the beginning, but you've exceeded my expectations in more ways than one. So when I say I'm proud of you, I really am." The girl reaches out and ruffles his hair before straightening her posture and walking away, leaving Naruto smiling at the compliment.

Sakura walked to grab yet another arm full of lumber and take them over to Sai, who was father on the other side of the bridge hammering away as well. Sakura took in a deep breath, bracing herself for the walk and the heaviness of the material.

She grabbed as many as she could before turning and carrying them towards the pale raven. She dropped them with a huff. Collapsing on the ground, she pulled off her gloves and began massaging her hands.

"As many people as you punched, and as many foundations you've damaged, your hands have the audacity to hurt carrying planks of wood?" Sai scoffed. "I'm disappointed."

"Shut up!" Sakura snaps. "I'm making sure I don't get blisters!"

"Ah, makes sense." Sai turned and smiled at the pinkette as he always did. Sakura heaved a sigh.

"You should be hammering too ya'know." Sai says again. "You carrying the wood for us is useless. You can only carry six at a time."

Sakura frowned. "Ten." She corrected.

"Advanced two a day." Sai nods as he continues his hammering. "How inspiring."

Sakura deadpanned. Before she had the impulse to punch Sai in the face, she pulled herself to her feet. As she walked away, she slipped her gloves on.

"Sasuke!!!"

A twelve year old Sakura gasped holding an unconscious twelve year old Sasuke in her arms.

Sakura bit her lip looking at her now gloved hands..

I couldn't even do anything but scream and hold a Kunai. She thought. Crying became my specialty. A substitution jutsu was my best jutsu. I had no Nature release—

"Hey Sakura!" Naruto pulled the girl out of her thoughts. Her head quickly shot his way, watching him approach her. Once he was by her side, he smiled and threw his arms behind his head. "Wanna go eat together?"

Smiling softly the girl nodded. She stepped in stride with the blonde boy, walking to the end of the bridge and Heading back towards the village to their destination.

"We have to come back here when Sasuke gets out of jail." Naruto smirks watching the village life before him. "It's not the same with Sai."

Sakura chuckles, her memory clouding her thoughts. She could see herself clinging on to Sasuke, watching as sweat dripped from his headband as he stood in front of her as a way to protect her.

"You guys have more of the good memories than I do." Sakura smirked. "You two actually went toe to toe with them."

"Heh." Naruto chuckles, scratching his cheek. "We did what we could."

"And it paid off." Sakura smiles at the blonde.

Naruto pressed his lips together. Once they made it to a small cafe, they entered and took their seats picking up a menu. Sakura scanned through the selections before she settled on a simple sandwich and green leaf tea. Naruto getting the same for lack of even looking.

"Ya know," Naruto chews his food before looking up at Sakura. She sipped away on her tea, looking at him curiously. "If this was three and a half years ago, I probably would've assumed this was a date."

Sakura giggled. "Thank goddess for maturity."

Naruto snorted.

"So are you ever gonna tell her how you feel?" Sakura asks as she takes a bite of her sandwhich. She used a napkin to wipe her mouth as she chewed.

"Huh?" Naruto raised a confused eyebrow. "Wh—Oh, Hinata." The blonde's face began to redden thinking of the blue haired beauty. "I-I dunno Sakura. It seems like she's interested in Kiba."

"Ew, what?" Sakura frowned like she had taste something bitter. She shook her head from side to side, her pink locks swishing as she did so. "No, no, no." She speaks again. "Definately not Kiba. He's her teammate; and close friend. Never."

Naruto furrowed his eyebrows. "Is she interested in anyone?"

The pinkette then smiled smugly, crossing her legs over one another under the table. She placed her chin in her hand as her free one played with the rim of her cup.

"I might know of a few things." She says matter-of-factly.

"So tell me." Naruto urges in a 'duh' sort of manner.

Sakura mutters a giggle that made the blonde frown. He watched her green eyes sparkle mischievously at him as she raised and lowered her thin eyebrows.

"Sakura?" Naruto blinked at the girl as he chewed his food.

"Well, I can't really say too much." Sakura says slowly. "But cheering you on won't be in vain." She smiles after her statement, knowing the blonde wouldn't get it.

As she expected, he frowned.

"The hell is that supposed to mean Sakura?" He asked. "Does she like someone?"

"Yes." Sakura didn't flinch when Naruto glared at her.

"Who?" He asked slowly. He narrowed his eyes daring her to lie.

"Some guy." Sakura quickly waved him off and went back to her food. "She's liked him for years."

"Then why should I bother asking her out?"

"Because you should, Naruto." Sakura looks at her friend sternly. "You don't have to do it right away. But when you're ready, hang out with her. Keep hanging out with her. Show her who you are and when you tell her, be sincere. Then you'll get what I was saying." She purses her lips into a smile. "It'll make her so happy—trust me."

———

86...

87...

88...

Sasuke exhaled loudly as he pushed himself off the cold ground of his cell. Since he finally had gotten his mobility and his sight, he's been working out and meditating. He also found it funny how the guards no longer taunt him when they bring him food.

He smirked thinking about it. With his other senses at an all time high, They left him alone. He knew if push came to shove, he could take them down without so much as a hair on his head out of place. But then he'd just be proving everyone right, that he was a traitor.

That wasn't the case. Sasuke left them alone because he knew they feared him. It served him no purpose to mess with them. He had other things in mind.

Sleep.

He was sleeping somewhat peacefully now that he can fully get back up and lay down. His back is no longer hurting him like it once was.

105...

106...

107...

He exhaled.

"Naruto cut it out!" A voice rings in his ears.

Short images of the figure the voice belonged to came into view.

*Flashback*

Sasuke frowned listening to the two argue for the umpteenth time since they been at their resting stop. It was a small little village on the outskirts of Konoha, just a little ways before the boarder separating Konoha from Suna.

They often came here to rest once they've reached the halfway mark of their journey to rest. But for Sasuke, that wasn't happening right now.

"Aw come on Sakura why not?!" The obnoxious blonde yelled? "He deserves it!"

BOP !

As expected, Sakura had hit Naruto. Sasuke wanted to laugh as he always did, but he had to remember that his teammates thinks he's sleeping. And whatever Naruto is planning on doing to him, Sakura wouldn't let him do it.

Sasuke breathed in deeply, forcing himself to turn on his side as he did, knowing he'd be facing their direction.

Sakura and Naruto froze. Naruto staring hoping the Raven wouldn't wake up, and Sakura staring because Sasuke looked so peaceful and beautiful. She bit her lip trying to stop herself from blushing so hard.

Seeing Naruto motion to reach towards the raven however, stopped the pinkette from admiring her one true love. She frowned heavily and reached forward smacking his hand down forcefully. Naruto whimpered.

"Ow, Sakura why'd you do that for?" The blonde poked his lip out as he looked over at her.

"Because I told you to leave him alone!" She snaps. "You should be going to sleep as well! Kakashi- Sensei wants us up early in the morning so we can reach Suna by the afternoon."

The blonde grumbled inaudible words before crawling to his futon on the other side of Sakura. He flopped down in a huff before pulling the blankets over his small body.

"Goodnight Naruto." Sakura smiled crawling under her blankets as well.

"Goodnight Sakura." He grumbles after a small yawn.

The small girl turned over and looked at Sasuke. Tracing over every feature of his being. His pale skin. His thin lips and simple nose. His nicely naturally arched eyebrows. The slant in his eyes. How his bangs slid across his jawline and onto the pillow he slept on.

"Goodnight, Sasuke." She whispers to him. The girl blinked once before letting the sleep state consume her.

The moment she fell into sleep's sweet trance the raven opened his eyes. They landed on Sakura, who laid next to him sleeping the entire time. He pushed himself up, seeing Naruto sprawled out on the other side of the pinkette snoring loudly. He laid back down still gazing at the pinkette before him. He never understood what he found about the girl to be so cute, but he couldn't ignore the fact that he thought she was.

From her slender nose to her pouty lips. The pure pinkness of her hair. She slept so peacefully beside him. She always did. Sasuke reached forward and moves her bangs away from her wide forehead to get a better look. Then, he took his index and middle finger and tapped her on the forehead. He watched the girl stirr for a moment before he smirked and laid back down.

Goodnight, Sakura.

*End Flashback*

Sasuke blinked trying to shake his thoughts from the embarrassing moment he just remembered.

He felt dumb. Besides Naruto, she was the only one that was truly by his side. Everytime she put herself on the line, he'd make a fool of her. He's insulted her by calling her annoying everytime she confessed to him. She was in fact annoying, but he used the word so loosely at times, it just comes out. He felt he had to push her away in order to achieve his goal.

Sasuke knew that Sakura knew going after him would be a suicide mission; and she took it anyway. Sasuke had reached rock bottom at that point. Any and everyone he knew and cared for had to die. It was just how he was.

Realizing that Sakura was actually willing to die trying to kill him, made his chest hurt. He regretted everything. Every. Single. Thing.

Sakura.... He thought. Please wait for me..