- a few months later -

"The Chunin expedition to the Land of Snow didn't make it, huh? Looks like all the Konoha News these days are always bad and depressing. It won't be long before the Leaf Village's rep goes down thanks to that."

"And all happened after Kakashi-Sensei became the Hokage... That can't be a coincidence."

The two girls laughed as they sat at the small café table.

"I gotta say, though, Guy-Sensei always saw it in him, being his rival and all."

"To think you had to put up with all that for so long, Tenten."

"You get used to it."

Tenten looked down at the plate in front of her friend and scoffed, "you won't fit into your bridesmaids dress if you keep eating like that, Ino..."

Ino choked on the cake she was in the process of eating, "excuse me! I went on my cake diet for weeks! Now that I'm married, I can binge what I want, thank you very much. Besides, it's not my wedding."

"But if you're the Maid of Honor, I think you should put a little bit more effort into it." Tenten chuckled weakly, "you should be a little more mindful about that..."

"Yeah, I guess..." Ino sighed, "so this is it, huh? Shikamaru's planning on proposing to Temari, Choji just proposed to Karui last week, Naruto and Hinata have been married for a couple of weeks, Kiba's dating someone, I think we're all getting old... It feels like it, too."

"Stop talking like you're a tired old man." They laughed as Ino turned her attention to the newspaper that laid on the table between them, "anyway, you were talking about Shikamaru's wedding, right? I feel like we were just at Naruto and Hinata's wedding. So much is going on. I wonder if Shikamaru's already got everything planned... I haven't really seen Temari around that often, so you'd never think they were engaged... Hold on, they're not, are they? Does she even know? Man this guy--"

"What the hell?!" Ino gripped the newspaper and stared at it in disbelief, "n-no way! You gotta be kidding me!!"

Tenten jumped at the sudden reaction, "wh-what?! What's wrong?! What happened?!"

Ino shoved the paper in front of Tenten's face, hands shaking in shock and excitement, "look right there! Front page! How the heck could I've missed it?!

Tenten read the title and smiled to herself, "well, look at that. I guess the Konoha News isn't all that bad."

"They never told us a thing!!" Ino crushed the paper under her fingertips, "and they made the front page! Now the whole village knows!"

"I know." Tenten laughed, "Sasuke and Sakura just got married."

__________________

"Who the heck published this..." Sakura's shoulders shook with annoyance as she stared at the cover story if the newspaper, a picture of her and Sasuke filling up half of it, "wh-when was this even taken... Wait, hang on..." She read the author of the article and sighed, "why am I not surprised... Kakashi-Sensei wrote this, for crying out loud..."

"It's alright. Don't you want the world to know about us?"

"O-of course..." Sakura walked closer against her new husband the day after they'd made the commitment of a lifetime before the Hokage and their teammate.

"Congratulations!"

"We're so happy for you two!"

"The Uchiha clan will be restored in no time!"

People knew who they were when they saw the newly-weds coming down the street and went out of their way to greet and congratulate them.

"I don't know whether to feel honored or uncomfortable." Sakura swallowed hard as they slowly approached the Hokage's office.

"Don't tell me we need to redo this..." Naruto waved the newspaper in the air as Sakura quickly approached him and the guilty sixth Hokage.

"Kakashi-Sensei! What's the meaning of this?!"

"What? It's good news! Something the village hasn't seen in a long while."

"You guys should feel special." Naruto grinned, "it was my idea after all."

"Of course it was..." Sakura rubbed her temples, "anyway, why'd you call us here? We just got married yesterday, you know."

"Oh, I know." Naruto chuckled, "we called you two here, though, because we have one last part of the wedding that we completely overlooked."

"What'd we do wrong this time..." she looked at Sasuke expectantly, but he stood staring at Naruto just as confused as her.

The two followed Kakashi and Naruto into the Hokage's building to be greeted by the four kage from the other Shinobi nations.

"Congratulations." Gaara smiled alongside Mei Terumī, Ōnoki, and Ay, the three Kage, "it's unfortunate we couldn't be here for the ceremony."

"It wasn't much."

"This is an important moment in history, you know." At replied to Sasuke's remark, "being the sole heir to the Uchiha clan, Sakura Haruno is the chosen vessel to carry on the Uchiha name. It's very important that you know this, Sasuke. Sakura."

"Yes. I understand."

"I also hope you understand..." Ōnoki looked at them seriously, "the dangers that lie ahead."

"That's what I was always afraid of." Sasuke looked at Sakura silently and pursed his lips.

"It's an honor to be chosen as the one to revive a legendary clan. However, those who opposed the Uchiha, Itachi, or even Sasuke himself will come after you as well. It's important to remember to never let your guard down."

"I plan to leave the village again." Sasuke looked at them, "for the safety of the Leaf and the people living here. And... I plan to take Sakura with me."

Sakura looked at her husband.

"Sasuke." Gaara crossed his arms, "doing that leaves you and Sakura open to attack. In the village, you have protection and safety. You don't have to think about the village all the time. We care about your safety as well. Especially as the sole people to revive the Uchiha name."

"Think about your future." Mei added, "what do you want for your family? You have to remember that in marriage, you two are united. You rely on each other and you've sworn to keep each other safe. Taking Sakura out into the open like that only puts her in more danger than staying in the village."

"Ah, if I may..." Sakura stepped forward, cutting Sasuke off from whatever he was about to say, "Sasuke knew the risks and the sacrifices he would have to make in asking someone to marry him. He understood the struggle he, his wife, and his future family would have to go through. He had many options to choose from, and even after three years, he chose me to be his wife. He knows my capabilities, and I'm certain he wouldn't have chosen me if he didn't know my strengths. He chose me to be the carrier of the Uchiha name because he knew that I can handle myself. I'm strong enough to hold myself up and even protect him from whatever we may encounter. So I beg you, please let us go. I want to keep the village safe as well, and only staying here puts the village in danger."

Sasuke smiled as the Kage looked at each other expectantly.

Naruto approached the couple and set his hands on their shoulders, "fine. I think... I think it's fine. But..." He winked at them, "there's still a little something you guys need to do."

"Naruto..."

They watched as Naruto grinned back at the Kage and gave them a reassuring thumbs up.

"Don't worry." He looked back at his two teammates, "I can guarantee that you'll love it."

______________________

In the end, Naruto convinced the Kage and Kakashi-Sensei to let Sakura leave the village with Sasuke only because they're a married couple, and if Sakura was willing to go with him, they really had no right to keep them apart. Ironically, following the meeting, Naruto wanted nothing more than to split up the couple and take Sasuke for a drink with the rest of their friends. Meanwhile, Sakura was heading home since she figured it would be a nice get-together for the boys of the infamous Konoha 12. After warning Sasuke not to drink too much, she made her way towards her apartment.

"Sakura! Where are you going?!"

Ino and Tenten were running towards her as she managed a smile to greet her friends, "hey, guys."

"Where's Sasuke? He's not supposed to leave your side. You're aware of that, right?"

"It's alright." Sakura laughed at Ino's remark, "they're just having a boys' night out. That's all."

"Well, while he's out having fun, you should have your own post-marriage party. Normally this comes before the wedding, but in your case, it can come after."

"Sakura, is that you?" A soft voice approached the three girls, "I never got to wish you my congratulations on your marriage!"

"Thanks so much, Hinata!"

"I hope Naruto's not giving you two a hard time."

"Oh, no, he's doing just fine." Sakura laughed before studying the bags of groceries Hinata was trying to hold, "do you need help?"

"Yeah, thank you." Hinata handed her a couple of bags and turned to Tenten and Ino, "would you like to come over? We can invite some other girls while Naruto's out of the house."

"This can be your post-bachelorette party!" Ino looked at Sakura excitedly the entire walk to Naruto and Hinata's apartment.

Tenten pulled out her phone, "I'll call Lady Tsunade and Lady Shizune. They'll want to celebrate with us."

"I'll call Temari!" Ino made her own phone call as Sakura set the bags on the table.

Not too long after, the apartment was full of chatter and laughter as the girls reminisced, talked, and ate until it was late at night and everyone had already left, leaving Sakura and Hinata.

"Sorry about all that, Hinata."

"Please, don't worry about it. I'm glad we could celebrate in some way for you. After all, you and Sasuke were a real surprise."

"I can't tell if you're being sarcastic." Sakura laughed as she and Hinata stepped out onto the small balcony that overlooked the village, "so... We're married women now, huh?"

"It took a while to get used to a different name, but in the end... I'm happy." Hinata smiled to herself, "saying 'yes' to Naruto has been one of the happiest decisions in my life."

"I completely understand that feeling." Sakura shut her eyes and smiled, "I wake up sometimes thinking that all this is way too good to be true. Now, we're married and someday, we're going to have our own kids and start new families. This has to be a dream."

"I pinch myself and realize... This is real. This all really happened, and I'm so thankful it did."

The two stood looking out into the night as Sakura pursed her lips and clenched her fists, "so... How do I do it?"

"Hm?"

"How do I be a good wife? Sasuke asked me to marry him, so all I can imagine doing is just... How do I make him know that he made a right decision? I don't want him to regret ever marrying me, or..."

"I imagined that too when Naruto and I got married. I just talked to him and asked him how I could be a good wife to him." Hinata chuckled to herself, "he told me he just wants me to be happy."

"That sounds like something Naruto would say."

"In turn, I want him to be happy. That's kind of our trade-off. So far, just as you said, it's like I'm living a dream. In a marriage, you both have to be willing to give something up for the other for their own happiness."

"I can understand that." Sakura looked at her, "we talked with the Five Kage earlier today..."

Hinata nodded, "from the sound of it, you're more than just Sasuke's wife."

"You know? "

"Naruto told me about it. He's beyond happier for the both of you, but at the same time, he's worried for your safety. He put the whole Kage summit together himself, after all."

"Why would he do that?!"

"Because... You're carrying on the Uchiha name. You know that, don't you?"

"I-I do, but..."

"Naruto's scared of what will happen to you two. After everything Sasuke and Itachi have done, there are people who want the Uchiha to die out for good, who will do anything to kill the remnants of the clan. However, you're a symbol of hope. Not only for the Uchiha but for Sasuke. He chose you to fulfill his dream, to revive the Uchiha clan, and most of all, he chose to love you. That puts you in more danger than you've ever been before."

"I understand that, but that's what I'm willing to sacrifice to make him happy. Just as you said." Sakura smiled, "after all, we'll protect each other. That's our tradeoff."

"Yeah." Hinata smiled and turned to the front door as two men stumbled inside.

"H-Hinata!!"

"Sorry, Hinata..." Shikamaru dragged Naruto into the living room and helped him sit on the couch, "Naruto kind of got really into it... He'll probably be sober by next week."

"Oh no..." Hinata laughed as she sat next to Naruto and set her hand on his forehead, "thank you, Shikamaru."

"It's no problem." He looked up, "oh, Sakura. Congratulations."

"Thank you."

"Sasuke headed home already. He didn't think you'd still be out this late."

"Well, he knows me well. I didn't think I'd still be out this late either." Sakura laughed and set her hand on Hinata's shoulder, "thank you again, Hinata. This talk... It really means a lot to me."

"Anytime, Sakura. I know you two will be fine."

________________________

If he's as drunk as Naruto... Sakura mumbled to herself as her fingers fumbled for the keys to her apartment. She opened the front door and stepped inside shocked at the sight before her.

"Hey. I thought you'd be home when I got here."

"Yeah... Hinata and I talked for a while." Sakura smiled, "you're not drunk?"

"You know I don't drink as much as the Dobe does." Sasuke pulled out a chair, "come on. Aren't you hungry?"

"Of course." She sat at the dining table, plates of food before her, "you didn't make this, did you?"

"Let's just say... I learned." Sasuke rubbed the back of his neck and sat across from her, "tell me what you think."

She took a bite and laughed, "Sasuke, this is good!"

"Is it? I'm glad you think so." He smiled to himself and took his own bite, "so... What did you talk about with Hinata?"

"Uh..." Sakura chewed thoughtfully and looked down at her plate, "girl stuff."

"Hm."

Is he not going to fight back?

"Sakura... I've been thinking."

"Haven't we all..."

"After that 5 Kage meeting and some talking with Naruto..."

"Come on, Sasuke. I can travel with you! I swear I won't be in the way, and I'll support you wherever you need--"

"Sakura, that's not what I was talking about."

"... Oh."

"It's just." He took a deep breath, "what are you willing to do for me?"

Where's this coming from all of a sudden... "I'm..." Sakura bit her lip, "I'm willing to fight for you. To die for you."

"If..." He looked at her directly, hand clenched into a fist, "if you want me to be happy, what will you dying for me ever do?"

"Be happy? Where did--"

Oh, that's right. Naruto...

"Naruto told me about him and Hinata. Sakura, I want you to be happy. But dying for me isn't what will make me happy in return. I want you to live."

"But..." Sakura clenched her hands into fists, "what about me? What would I do if you died? I don't want that. I could just be acting selfish, but I want you to live, Sasuke. And here's our trade-off. I'll protect you with my life only if you'll protect me with yours."

Sasuke looked at her, smiled, stood up from his seat, and took her hand into his, "okay."

"Thank you." Sakura stood up and wrapped her arms tight around him, "did you... Did you choose me only because you knew I'd play a part in the Uchiha clan revival, or was it out of... Feelings?"

"Sakura, if I married you for that reason and that reason only, I'd be using you right here and now. I would've taken you by force and never waited for your permission. I'd hurt you. That's not what I want for you. The reason I chose you..."

She waited for his answer as she looked up at him, "S-Sasuke... You're crying..."

He shook his head and smiled, "I chose you because you've been waiting here for me all your life. You were always there for me, no matter how many times I pushed you away. Because of you, I had a place to belong after the war... I have a place to come home to. And I'm eternally grateful for you. That's why I never want to let you go, and why I never want you to give your life up for me. I'll never allow it."

Sakura grinned, "hearing you say that makes me happy beyond words."

After a few moments, Sasuke leaned down and kissed her.

I swear I'll make you happy. I'll keep you safe. And I'll cherish you, because...

I love you, Sakura Haruno.

No.

I love you,

Sakura Uchiha.