- three years ago - 

"Finally. Thank you for your service, great Shinobi." The old man bowed in respect to the dark ninja, "I'm forever in your debt. My wife and children..."

"No need to thank me. I only need you to relay what I did on to the village."

"Yes! Of course, great Shinobi!"

"Also..." The ninja stopped the man before he vanished, "it's Sasuke. Sasuke Uchiha."

Sasuke had been traveling and atoning for his sins for two years now, and he was just on his way back to the place he longed to protect, as well as to the person that saved him with the hopes to touch base, update on his mission, and offer his congratulations on a newfound relationship. In the process, he hoped to make a few more stops on the way, not including the unplanned side-missions and tasks he had to complete for fellow Leaf villagers traveling across the nation. Before he knew it, here he was. Standing at the gate to the place he called 'home'.

"Is that Sasuke?!" Izumo and Kotetsu looked at each other incredulously.

Sasuke braced himself for the pain and insults following his arrival. However, he was met with the opposite.

"It's good to see you!" Kotetsu nodded in greeting, "we're glad you decided to come and visit! You should've sent a message or something before showing up for a surprise visit."

"Yeah." Sasuke muttered as he walked ahead of them, "is Naruto around?"

"Well, he's probably out training in the fields. Other than that, yes, he's in the village at the moment." Izumo replied, "is there something important he should know?"

Sasuke didn't speak for a moment until right before he vanished into thin air, "I'll be right back."

_______________

Naruto's just trying to do a good service for the village. I mean, but if we don't have enough money, there's nothing we can do... This children's therapy hospital needs its upgrades, but the roads getting fixed? Kakashi-Sensei should know what to do in a situation like this, right? That's why he's the Hokage.

Sakura's train of thought was cut off by the sudden knock at her door.

"Who could that be at this hour?" Sakura checked the clock and slowly made her way to the door, "it's so early. I need to meet with Kakashi-Sensei before the rush-hour... Hits..."

"Hey, Sakura. I'm home."

Sakura stared in shock at the man that stood right in front of her. She finally brought herself to smile, hold back her tears, and resist the urge to throw her arms around him, "welcome home."

They stood in silence before Sakura shook her head and chuckled weakly, "shanaroo, where are my manners? Please, come in."

"Thanks." Sasuke calmly accepted her invitation and stepped into her small living space, "so, this is your apartment?"

"Yeah." Sakura shut the door and rubbed her elbows, "how'd you even know where I live?"

"The Leaf Village keeps its records hidden. Maybe not well enough, though." Sasuke smiled in her direction, "I came to see Naruto."

"Then..." Sakura crossed her arms and leaned against the wall, "why are you here? Naruto should be out training."

"Because I forced myself to make an exception." He looked down at the floor, "I knew I couldn't leave things the way I left them, and... I recognize that I owe you more than just an apology."

Sakura chuckled and stood up straight, "it's alright, Sasuke. I accepted your apology a long time ago."

"But nothing I can do or say could ever make up for the pain I put the village through... Or the emotional pain I put you through... Please, let me make it up to you. It's only another part of the atonement for my sins."

"Of course." Sakura set her hand on his shoulder, "Sasuke, I told you I wanted to help you in any way I can, didn't I? So I won't stop you."

"Thank you." He started towards the door, "so, I only have something I need help with... I was hoping you could, uh... Help me."

What? Asking me for help?! Sakura stared in confusion at him. I see what he's doing... He's relying on others for a change. This must be his way of training himself and becoming stronger. Asking others for help.

"Of course. What is it that you need help with? I'll try my best to do what I can for you."

He nodded, "I always knew you would." Sasuke stopped and avoided eye contact with Sakura, "I need to know... Whatever there is to know about women."

A chord struck in Sakura's head. Women?! "You mean... H-how do you mean?"

"How to, you know..." He was getting frazzled, "please a woman, what to expect, what to keep in mind, the... The anatomy and mental behavior... You're the top medic ninja in the village, so maybe you can... Help educate me on those things..."

Sakura felt her heart beat faster at the request, "y-yeah, I can help, but... Is there a particular reason why you want to know these things?"

"None. Only that..."

"There's a woman, huh?" Sakura smiled softly and finished his sentence, "I can see it on your face. It's alright, Sasuke. There's no need to be ashamed in admitting your love for someone."

"... Yeah."

"If that's all you need for now, then I'll gladly do it." She nodded in agreement.

Maybe he finally found someone to move on with? Traveling around the world kind of gives him that liberty, doesn't it? I'd be surprised if he came back after a few years and doesn't have a girlfriend yet... Sakura rubbed her elbows as she walked to her small kitchenette and set out two glasses two fill with water, "I can make something if you're hungry."

"Yeah. Thanks." Sasuke looked down as he sat on the couch, "thanks for everything..."

She smiled, "it's only the least I can do to help you."

Half an hour had passed before Sakura set bowls of food on the table in front of Sasuke.

"Wow, this looks good." He picked up a bowl and chopsticks and blew on the heat, "you made this?"

"Yeah. I started picking up recipes and learning to cook." Sakura sat next to him and picked up her own bowl, "I hope it's not too bad."

Sasuke took his first bite, shut his eyes, and chewed quietly, "this is really good. I like it a lot."

Sakura smiled to herself and beamed at his compliment, "I'm so glad you think so! I roasted some tomatoes and thought the acidity would compliment the risotto nicely."

"I love tomatoes." Sasuke smiled, "this was well-made, Sakura."

"Thank you!" She chuckled, "so... Women... I hope you understand the basic anatomy of women, such as the chest and the... Part of women that set them apart from men."

"Yeah."

How do I talk about this without making it awkward... Sakura pursed her lips and hid the burning red color on her cheeks, "let's see... Women tend to be more emotional than most men. Due to a peak in hormones, during a woman's period week every month, she could get a lot more on edge."

"Period week?"

Shoot... He doesn't even know what a period is... Sakura internally cried. Sasuke, this is going to be a lot harder than I thought.

__________________

Later that day, Sakura set a stack of books in front of her guest, "here's where you can find anything I failed to mention. I gave you the basics of how women think and feel, as well as the anatomy of women, how it differs from men, and the important things to remember in a relationship with a woman." She wiped her forehead on the back of her hand, "is there anything else I can do for you?"

Sasuke sat quietly staring at the books before shutting his eyes, "what do women like?"

"Huh?" Sakura blinked a few times before clearing her throat, "I guess... It depends on the woman."

"Like...?"

"I wouldn't know."

"Give some examples. Like yourself."

"I don't know... I don't like the same things most women like. I guess... I like chocolate and flowers. That's something every woman likes." Sakura sighed, "I also like it when men do things for me. For example, if I want Naruto to bring me something and he brings it, I like that..."

"Naruto..." Sasuke looked at her, "you two are... No, he's with Hinata."

"Yeah, that's right. Naruto's just a close friend of mine. He's always been there for me, so he's definitely someone I trust deeply.

"Okay." Sasuke stood up, "I'm going out."

"Huh? O-okay..." Sakura watched as he made his way towards her front door, "wait! At least let me walk you to the--"

"Thanks, Sakura." He opened the door, paused to look back at her, "see you."

He disappeared before Sakura could question his strange and sudden interest.

Sasuke... She stared at where he was standing not too long ago before holding her clasped hands over her heart. Did... Did something happen?

He found a girl, didn't he? Two years... And he's found someone to rely on, hasn't he? I'm... I'm so...

I'm so happy for you.

______________________

"Did you do something to her?"

"Wh-what?! Sasuke is that you?!" Naruto turned on his heel as he stood just outside the Hokage's office, "when the hell did you get here?!"

"I just arrived." Sasuke rolled his eyes, "answer my question."

"Did I do something to 'her'? Who's 'her'?"

"Sakura."

"N-no, of course not. What makes you think that?!" Naruto crossed his arms, clearly annoyed with the situation, "if you don't mind... I have some important business to take care of."

"Hn." Sasuke blinked a few times, "business, huh?"

He eyed the stack of papers Naruto hid behind his back.

"I-it's nothing. Anyway, what are you doing here? Probably not to come to argue with me about Sakura... Hey, when did you get so interested in her, anyway?"

"You need to be quiet, Naruto. Your loud mouth is just going to ruin everything." Sasuke looked around, "is there... Somewhere more private we could talk?"

"Hm? S-sure, I guess..." He noted the blush that hid behind Sasuke's hair, "here, let me drop these forms off then we can head back to my place."

Naruto did what he needed to and led Sasuke through the Leaf Village to his apartment.

"You're still living in this dump?"

"It's just fine, thank you very much!" Naruto yelled at Sasuke's face as he fumbled for his keys. During the struggle, Sasuke also noted the blush on Naruto's face.

"Are you sick or something?"

"No. Are you? You were getting kind of red back there."

"Was I?"

"Yes."

Sasuke looked away as he followed Naruto into the unkempt apartment, "same as before."

"Shut up." Naruto tossed the key onto his couch.

"At your age, shouldn't you be more organized?"

"Well... I've been stressed, okay?"

Sasuke looked at him silently before Naruto came out of the kitchen with two cups of water, "so..."

"What."

"You're not sick but you're clearly red... And sweating."

"Really?" Naruto ran his hand down the back of his neck, "aw, crap..."

"What's up?"

That paperwork he was holding at the Hokage's office... This stressed living... Always red... The nervous sweat... Sasuke glanced around the room then spotted a picture frame on the coffee table in front of him, "it all makes sense now."

"H-Huh?"

Sasuke smirked, "you're proposing to Hinata, aren't you."

Naruto burned even redder as he covered his mouth, "s-so what if I am, huh? You come to make fun of me or something?"

"Hn. You've really come a long way, Loser." Sasuke looked up at him, "anyway, I came to talk about Sakura."

"Huh... What about her?"

"I..." He pursed his lips and clenched the cloth of his shirt, "what's this pained feeling in my chest? Whenever I'm with her or even away from the village... I think of her and I get this pained feeling... What is it?"

Naruto looked at him and chuckled, "that's what started this whole thing, Sasuke. It's called love. You of all people should know that."

"Really..."

"I mean, doesn't the Uchiha clan value love more than anyone else? It could just be some tall tale I heard off the streets, but if that's the case..."

"Then I'm in love with Sakura..." Sasuke stared at the floor, "I really am, aren't I?"

"Heh." Naruto patted Sasuke's back, "I'd say you are."

After a few moments of silence, Sasuke looked at Naruto, "what do I do?"

"Hm?"

"How do I... Make Sakura happy?"

"Heh. You may be a bigger idiot than me." Naruto sighed, "she already loves you. But you've been gone for two years, Sasuke. By now, we all would've thought that you'd moved on with another girl. That's what rumors tell, at least. But then again, Sasuke Uchiha, the one popular with all the ladies, never really fell in love that easily."

"Maybe not..." Sasuke clenched his hand into a fist. But if this is the case... Then... I admit it: I deeply cared for Sakura even back then, but I... I never acknowledged that, did I? I was so young and naïve, too blinded by hatred and anger to see the ones who loved me... To see who I truly loved. To see that Sakura and Naruto were always there waiting for me... Even after everything I've done... "Naruto. Help me confess to Sakura."

The dumbfounded blond stared at Sasuke for a moment before smiling, "this isn't the Sasuke I remember, you know. All I could give you now is some advice. I can't help you confess to Sakura, but I can tell you to just tell her how you feel. It's a little bit uncomfortable at first, but hey, if you love her that much, then you're willing to get out of your comfort zone for her, right? That's what I felt with Hinata."

"How I feel, huh." Sasuke stood up, "I need to go see her."

"Wait, Sasuke." Naruto stood up as Sasuke made his way to the front door, preparing to leave, "just remember... How far are you willing to go for her?"

He looked at him, smiled softly, and turned to leave, "yeah."

______________________

"Sasuke! Welcome back." Sakura stepped aside to let Sasuke step into her apartment, "I hope you found what you were looking for."

"I did." He stood by her as she shut the door.

"So... I meant to ask earlier." She crossed her arms and smiled, "did you find yourself a girl to love on your travels?"

"Ah..." Sasuke slowly turned a shade of pink, "n-not exactly... Uh..."

"Oh, haha, no need to get so flustered about it, Sasuke. Though I'm one to talk, aren't I? Listen." Sakura sighed as she composed herself, "you can tell me about it. I may have loved you so much back then, but don't let that stop you from talking about your new girlfriend, okay? I'm happy for you two. As long as she's someone you can always be yourself with and find yourself being happy with, then I approve--"

"'Back then'... What about now?"

"Huh?"

"You loved me back then... Do you not still love me?"

"Ah..." Sakura's face burned as she waved her hands defensively in front of her, "no, no! I mean... No, I don't not love you, I mean... I still love you, you're cool, but not love, love, you know? Oh geez... I probably don't love you as much as your girlfriend does, or as much as you love your girlfriend. There." She let out a sigh of relief before looking up at the Uchiha's face, "uh... S-Sasuke... Did I say something wrong? You're..."

He brought his hand up to his face and felt a sensation he hadn't felt in a long time, "tears...?"

"Why are you crying?"

Sakura... This is harder than I thought... He swallowed hard and set his hand on Sakura's shoulder before pulling her into a tight hug, "I love you, Sakura. There's no other way to put it, but... I love you... Still. There's never been any other girl, it's you I want, Sakura."

Sakura stared at him in astonishment as she, in turn, felt tears escape her eyes, "S-Sasuke... I... I don't know what to say..."

"Just say..." He held her in front of him, "say you still love me..."

She only smiled and brought her hands up to dry the tears on his face, "of course I love you, Sasuke. Always have, always will."

I have to leave... My mission's still yet to be completed, but... I swear, Sakura. The next time I come back here... I want to take you with me. Maybe not as my girlfriend, but... As my wife.

Please, Sakura...

Just wait for me...

Until then...

- Sasuke Uchiha