"Why didn't anyone tell me?! Billboard Brow you are such a jerk!" Ino Yamanaka held Sakura's shoulders and shook her until she fell over.

"Well..." Sakura chuckled as she looked at the ring on her finger, "we didn't want it to circulate too much..."

"Man, I totally would've been there yesterday!" Ino groaned, "well, at least now you're not the only unmarried one."

"Heh."

"Was anyone there at least? Who married you two?"

"Kakashi-Sensei did. And Naruto was there. He insisted on coming and dreaded not telling anyone. But he managed to do it, shockingly." Sakura laughed.

"Aw, Sakura, I wanted to be there..." Ino groaned.

"It's fine. It wasn't a big deal." Sakura waved it off, "anyways, I need to head back home. Hopefully Sasuke and Naruto are done sparring by now."

"Yep. Say hi to Sasuke for me!" Ino waved as Sakura ran towards her apartment building. She was in the happiest mood. Apparently, one of the places Sasuke had gone during the day was her parents' house, getting acquainted with them and asking for their blessing. She had no idea, and when she went to go break the news to them herself, they were already at her doorstep ready to congratulate her.

"Oh, Sasuke..." Sakura grinned as she walked through the door to her apartment to see Sasuke sitting in his usual spot on the couch, reading a scroll.

"Welcome back." Sasuke smiled as she went to join him on the couch.

"What are you reading this time?"

"Uhm..." Sasuke muttered as he scanned the scroll, "it's... Another mission report."

Sakura rose an eyebrow, "you're serious this time?" Last time he told her that, he was really reading a guide to marriage from Kakashi... Which really didn't surprise her at all.

"Yeah..." Sasuke tapped his chin, "I might need to leave pretty soon."

Sakura looked down at the floor, clutching the cloth of the couch cushion, "already? It was only a week, and..."

"I know, I'm sorry, but I have to go." Sasuke looked at her sadly.

"But..." Sakura shut her eyes and shook her head, "Sasuke, you've been gone too long. You just got back, we're all so thrilled to see you..."

"And I'm thrilled to see all of you too, but if I want to keep you all safe, I need to tend to this mission and keep moving, far from the village." Sasuke explained.

"Our... Our marriage... Does that not mean anything to you? When you said that you'd never leave my side?" She looked at him with glossy eyes, "I refuse to leave your side, Sasuke, please stay!"

Sasuke pursed his lips. It all seemed too familiar to be true. He's been confronted with this same obstacle, and every time, it killed him on the inside to have to tell her 'no'. He glanced at the window, then back at her, "then come with me."

Sakura's eyes widened, "what?"

Sasuke dropped the scroll and took her hand in his, "I know I made the promise to never leave your side, so I intend to keep that promise. But I still need to leave. I can tell you that I can't stay. But I can also tell you that you can come with me."

Sakura smiled as tears ran down her cheeks, "yes! I'll go with you! I'll travel with you to the ends of the earth, I just want to be with you always!"

Sasuke looked at her and smiled, then wrapped his arm around her and hugged her tight, "Thank you, Sakura..."

"No, Sasuke..." Sakura whispered as she hugged him, "thank you."

____________________________

"So this is another redemption journey?" Kakashi, Naruto, and Ino stood at the gate ready to see Sasuke and Sakura off.

"No. Just a journey away from the village and to infiltrate an enemy base that my subordinates had picked up on yesterday." Sasuke explained.

"Hey, Idiot, take care of Sakura-chan." Naruto told him, "I swear if something happens to her, I'll find you and kill you myself, you hear?"

"Hn." Sasuke smirked.

"Sakura, have fun!" Ino giggled.

"Ino..." Sakura blushed.

"Oi, Sasuke, careful with this one. She's a real handful and loudmou--"

"Okay, bye Ino! Sure will miss you!" Sakura cut her best friend off, only making Sasuke chuckle.

"Take care, you two." Kakashi smiled.

"Thanks for everything." Sasuke thanked before turning to Sakura, "you ready to go?"

"Mhm!" Sakura grinned, then turned to Naruto, "don't be a burden to Hinata! Find time to help her around the house, too. Oh, and don't even think about--"

"Okay, okay, bye Sakura-chan!" Naruto laughed and waved.

Sakura took one last glance at her friends before running to catch up with Sasuke. She grinned with excitement. She knew that this wasn't just the start of their journey away from The Hidden Leaf Village, but also their journey to rebuild the bond that was broken in the past. She was thrilled and ready to take on the journey with the man she truly loves.

She felt Sasuke grab her hand and give it a reassuring squeeze. She smiled and nodded as her gaze met his.

Come what may... Sakura faced the road before her, never letting go of the warmth of his hand, let the journey begin!