It's March 28th, the beginning of spring, and Sakura is turning sixteen. A chilly breeze caresses her skin, and she closes her eyes in bliss, sorrow, or a bit of both as the first ray of light hits her face.

"Do you feel different?" Naruto asks between two yawns, rubbing his groggy eyes open.

She snorts, brings a bottle to her lips, and lets out a content sigh when a burning trail of sake makes its way down her throat.

"Woah! Have you been drinking all night?"

"That we did," Kakashi answers for her, bumping his drink with hers.

Sakura sends the silver-haired man an amused look, a smile dancing on her lips.

"And how the hell are you still standing?"

Naruto pokes her side, and she swats his hand away with a laugh bubbling in her throat. She relishes this raw feeling of happiness with smiling eyes.

"Tsunade taught me a trick or two," she answers, and Kakashi nods knowingly.

"If you wanted to preserve Sakura-chan's innocence, Naruto, you shouldn't have let her pursue the Godaime's training."

"I'm not... That's not..." He sighs. "I worry. That's all."

Sakura leans in the blond's personal space with narrowed eyes. "Are you blushing?"

He groans and pushes her back with his large hand covering her face, palm crushing her nose.

"I'm already taken, Sak. Step back before Hinata sees you."

"Ditto," she mutters, wrinkling her sensitive nose with her arms crossed over her chest.

"Ah," Kakashi jumps in, "the Hyūga cousins. I wonder if they have an aunt or two I could be introduced to."

Sakura nudges him playfully. "You don't need help in that department, Sensei."

"Speaking of which—"

"No!" Sakura and Kakashi interrupt the blond in unison.

"I'm not giving you sex advice," the man says, vehemently shaking his head.

"Yes. Please. Nobody wants that," Sakura implores.

Naruto chuckles, linking his hands behind his head and reclining, gaze glued to the pink sky. "Alright."

They share a comfortable silence, but Sakura can't fully appreciate the moment and eventually spills her troubling thoughts on her beloved teammates.

"Do you think he remembers my birthday?"

Her companions share a knowing look.

"Not that it matters. It shouldn't matter. Why does it, though?"

"Of course he does," Kakashi stops her rambling with his gentle voice, fingers ruffling her pink locks. "And it matters because you love him. We all do. And we all worry."

"So I'm not the only pathetic one?"

"You're pathetic? Look at me," Naruto replies. "I'm still a genin. Do you know any genin Hokage?"

Kakashi sighs. "And I'm drunk, on a rooftop, with two teenagers who also happen to be my only friends."

"Aren't you forgetting someone?" Sakura questions with a knowing smile.

"That stupid spandex alien is not my friend. He's my eternal rival."

"Aa. Sorry."

They laugh goodheartedly, and Sakura leans against Kakashi's shoulder as her fingers intertwine with Naruto's.

"You're my family now, guys. Without you, I don't think I would survive five seconds."

"Nah, don't say that, Sakura-chan. You're the strongest!"

"I'm not talking in a fight, dummy."

She glances at her blond friend, notes his knitted eyebrows, and elaborates between two giggles.

"You're the only two people on this Earth keeping me sane, and I'll never love anyone the way I love you."

"Until Sasuke comes to his senses and returns to the village," the blond points out matter-of-factly.

"Naruto," Kakashi warns as Sakura stiffens against him.

"What? She's giving up."

"I'm not—"

"Yes! You are!" He gets up, an accusing finger pointing at her. "Why else would you say stuff like that? That you'll never love anyone as much as you love us? Please, that's bullshit."

"I said the way I love you, Naruto," Sakura corrects, temper flaring. "If you can't listen correctly, keep your mouth shut."

"Oh."

"What I feel for Sasuke will never die, Naruto," she resumes, softening. "Moving on with my life doesn't mean I gave up."

"So, with Neji, it's—"

"Real," she finishes, knowing that's not where he was going. "Uncertain. But more importantly, it's simple. And that's what I need right now. Can you understand that?"

"Of course," he answers, reclaiming his seat beside her.

"Are you sure? Because I've been feeling your judgment for weeks now. Sometimes, I wonder if even Sasuke would react as strongly as you if he knew I've been cheating."

"That's not cheating," Kakashi corrects, brows furrowed. "Don't you dare feel guilty about any of this."

"Hai, captain," she jokes, straightening with a hand to her forehead.

"I'm not joking," the man presses, his lone eye searching for hers. She blushes at the seriousness of his scrutiny. "After everything you've been through this year, you deserve happiness in any form necessary."

He brushes gentle fingers against her cheek before tucking a lock of hair behind her ear, his eye crinkling.

"Get a room already," Naruto exclaims, dusting himself off.

"Jealous much?" Kakashi teases in Sakura's ear, and she giggles at Naruto's infuriating glare.

"Always," he mutters before flashing them one of his characteristic toothy grins. "Gotta go pick up Hinata for our monthly anniversary."

Sakura smiles proudly at her friend. "You've come a long way."

"Aa," Kakashi agrees, following the blond up and ruffling his spiky hair in passing. "And I have a meeting with the Hokage in about... Oh, would you look at that? It was two hours ago."

"Fine," Sakura laughs, "Go. Leave me to my misery... I promised Lee a training session," she answers their questioning look.

Kakashi winces. "You should treat yourself better. Ja ne," he waves before evaporating in a cloud of smoke.

"He's so cool. I want to be like him one day," Naruto mumbles, eyes widening.

"Careful what you wish for," she whispers, giving him a peck on the cheek. "See you later!"

He leaves as a widening smile stretches on his lips, and Sakura watches his retreating form with her heart swelling.

"I'm not alone," she whispers, a tear rolling down her cheek.

You are not alone.

She freezes when sturdy fingers intertwine with hers and sobs in recognition, folding in two under the intensity of her emotional turmoil.

"Dad."

Happy birthday, Monkey. We love you.