Chapter Text
Four years had passed since Team Seven first formed, and three years since they'd split up to chase their own kinds of strength. Like branches spreading from the same tree, they'd grown apart while staying connected at their roots. At fifteen, they'd come together just long enough to make chunin, their teamwork as natural as breathing despite the time apart. But they all knew it couldn't last—not yet. They still had more to learn.
Sakura's own path had led her to places she'd never dreamed of seeing. Following Lady Tsunade meant constant movement, tracking down forgotten scrolls and ancient healers in villages that barely appeared on maps. From getting her bones broken and punches mountains into dust then making them reappear with her earth element. Every morning, without fail, her mentor would drill her until her chakra ran dry.
"Healing and hurting are two sides of the same coin," Tsunade would say, watching as Sakura practiced both until her hands shook. Soon enough a diamond appeared on her forehead. When she came home to the village for good three months ago, her parents hated the mark on her forehead and they didn't quite understand what she was becoming. How could they? They somehow raised a daughter who could crack mountains and stitch wounds with equal skill.
Naruto's letters told wild stories of his travels with Master Jiraiya. He wrote about learning patience (something Sakura had to see to believe) and understanding the quieter side of being a shinobi. He was still Naruto—still burned bright enough to light up a room—but now there was depth to his fire.
Then there was Sasuke.
His training had worried them all at first. Training under Orochimaru near the village, even under ANBU watch, had seemed insane. But Itachi's gamble paid off. The Snake Sannin, bound by his agreement with Konoha, turned his expertise to actual teaching instead of experiments. It kept Sasuke close to home and transformed a deadly enemy into an uneasy ally.
Now, a year since their last goodbye and three months into being a proper team again, Sakura could see how much they'd all changed. However our genin turning into chunin were not the only changes in the leaf. The village had changed last year too. Minato's decision to step down as Hokage after the his son made chunin, but Itachi was chosen to take over. In just one year, the Uchiha had proven himself a natural leader, his recent marriage to Izumi bringing a sense of stability to uncertain times.
Tsunade split her time between traveling and training Sakura in the village, building up Konoha's hospital between adventures. It was a strange balance, but it worked. Like everything else these days, it was different but good.
Different but good. That seemed to sum up Team Seven now too.
Naruto had finally grown into his massive chakra reserves. He found out how to think before acting (or at least half the time), and his strategies showed real cleverness. The dream of making his parents proud still drove him, but now he understood what that really meant. Keeping the village safe.
Sakura herself had bloomed. No more doubting herself or feeling less than her clan-born peers. She'd earned her place through sweat and broken ground, through countless hours of study and practice. She learned being civilian-born wasn't a weakness—it was just part of who she was.
The biggest change was in Sasuke. Gone were the days when he'd talk with her for hours, just the two of them. Now he was all "hn" and "hm," keeping his thoughts locked behind careful eyes. Their friendship hadn't broken, but it had shifted into something she was still trying to understand.
-
The morning sun warmed her face as she reached the training grounds. She felt Naruto before she saw him—his chakra signature was like a bonfire, controlled now but still unmistakably him. Sasuke appeared moments later, silent as a shadow but solid as stone.
They weren't the same kids who'd stumbled through their first missions together. They weren't even the same people who'd drifted apart three years ago. Time and distance had forged them into something new: a team that understood both unity and independence.
As cherry blossoms swirled around them in the morning light, Sakura felt the weight of endings and beginnings. They were home. They were together.
And whatever came next, they were ready.
---
"My shoulders are still sore from yesterday's hospital shift," Sakura said, rolling her shoulders as she stretched. The morning air was crisp, perfect for training. "Mom wouldn't stop fussing about it at breakfast. 'A proper lady shouldn't have muscle that big. You would not have aches it you worked out less,'" she mimicked her mother's concerned tone.
"At least your parents feed you breakfast," Naruto laughed, dropping into a stretch beside her. "Dad just throws a protein bar at my head on his way to work. He is only an advisor now, he could stay and make me something!"
"Hn," Sasuke contributed, a slight twitch playing at his lips. "Better than my mother. She still tries to pack me lunches. With little fox rice balls for you, Naruto, and inari sushi arranged in the shape of a cherry blossom for you," he said, his head turning towards Sakura with a hint of amusement in his eyes.
"Mikoto-san's rice balls are the best though!" Naruto grinned. "Remember when she used to make them for our Academy lunches?"
"Focus on training," Sakura reminded them, settling into a sparring stance. "Not food. Basic taijutsu only. No showing off."
"When do I ever show off?" Naruto asked innocently, dodging her half-strength punch.
"Yesterday," Sasuke replied, moving into position. "The day before. Last week—"
"Okay, okay! But I've gotten better, right?"
"Marginally," Sakura teased, blocking Sasuke's strike while aiming a sweep at Naruto's legs. "You only destroyed half the training ground last time instead of all of it."
They fell into a comfortable rhythm, the only sounds their controlled breathing and the soft thud of blocked hits. No one was trying to win—this was about maintenance, about keeping their edges sharp.
"Your form's gotten sloppy," Sasuke commented as he blocked Naruto's punch.
"Yeah?" Naruto grinned. "Funny, that's what Pervy Sage said about your last mission report."
"He would know about sloppy—"
A distinct bark interrupted their banter. Pakkun sat at the edge of the field, looking thoroughly unimpressed.
"If you three are done chatting," the ninken drawled, dropping a scroll from his mouth, "special delivery."
"Pakkun!" Naruto brightened. "How's the new paw cream working out?"
"Softer than a puppy's—" Pakkun caught himself, grumbling. "Just read the scroll." He disappeared in a puff of smoke.
Naruto snatched up the scroll first. "'Tag, you're it. Come find me if you can.' Ha! Classic Kakashi-sensei!"
"Bet I find him first," Sakura said, cracking her knuckles with a grin.
"No way! I've got this in the bag, believe it!"
"Still using that catchphrase?" Sasuke asked, his Mangekyō Sharingan spinning to life. "Some things never change."
"Says the guy who still talks in grunts half the time," Naruto shot back. "Five clones only, that's fair right?"
"Look at you, showing restraint," Sakura teased.
"Split up?" Sasuke suggested, already scanning the area.
"Loser buys dinner!" Naruto called, his clones dispersing across the village.
They searched for nearly an hour, occasionally crossing paths.
"Any sign?" Sakura asked when they met near the Academy.
"Nothing," Naruto groaned. "He's getting better at this."
"Or we're getting worse," Sasuke muttered.
"Speak for yourself!" Naruto protested. "I've checked every ramen stand twice!"
"Because that's where you'd hide," Sakura rolled her eyes. Then she paused, concentrating on the ground beneath her feet. A slow smile spread across her face. "Hey, Sensei?" she called sweetly, before slamming her fist into the earth.
The ground erupted, revealing a dirt-covered Kakashi who barely managed to dodge.
"Yo," he said casually, despite being caught literally underground. "Took you long enough."
"How long were you—" Naruto started.
"The whole time," Kakashi eye-smiled. "Watching you train. And chat. And completely fail to notice your surroundings."
"We noticed eventually," Sakura pointed out.
"After an hour," Kakashi sighed dramatically. "This is exactly why you still need me as your sensei. Your situational awareness is terrible. What if I'd been an enemy?"
"If you'd been an enemy," Sasuke said flatly, "you wouldn't have lasted an hour without attacking."
"Such faith in my self-control! But we can discuss that later. The Hokage is waiting."
"Itachi's giving us a mission?" Naruto perked up. "Why didn't you just say so?"
"And miss this valuable training opportunity?" Kakashi pulled out his book as they started walking. "Besides, I needed to assess your current skills. Or lack thereof."
"You could have just asked," Sakura said dryly.
"Where's the fun in that?" Kakashi turned a page. "Though I have to say, your taijutsu form has improved. All of you. Even if your observation skills need work."
"Was that... a compliment?" Naruto stage-whispered to Sasuke.
"Mixed with an insult," Sasuke replied. "Typical."
They made their way through the village, passing Sakura's parents' house. Her father was reading a book while her mother watered the garden.
"Sakura!" her mother called. "Will you be home for dinner?"
"Mission briefing, Mom! I'll let you know!"
"Be careful, dear! And stand up straight—a proper lady doesn't slouch!"
"Yes, Mom," Sakura called back, deliberately straightening her posture until they turned the corner. Then she slumped with a groan. "She still don't get it."
"They try though," Naruto offered. "Remember when they tried to forbid you from training after dark?"
"Now they just lecture me about it the next morning," Sakura smiled fondly. "Progress, I guess."
"Speaking of progress," Kakashi interjected as they approached the tower, "your teamwork has improved. Even if your detection skills haven't."
"Was that another compliment?" Naruto asked.
"Don't get used to it," Kakashi replied, but his visible eye crinkled with pride.
As they climbed the steps to the Hokage's office, Sakura found herself smiling. They'd grown up, grown stronger, but some things—like Naruto's enthusiasm, Sasuke's competitiveness, and Kakashi's roundabout teaching methods—stayed comfortingly the same.
"Ready?" she asked as they reached the door.
"Born ready!" Naruto grinned.
"Hn," Sasuke nodded.
"My cute little students, all grown up," Kakashi wiped an imaginary tear from his eye.
"Don't push it, Sensei," Naruto said.
Itachi sat at his desk as Team Seven opened the door, his Hokage robes pristine and his demeanor calm as always. His gaze swept over them, noting the subtle tension in their postures after Kakashi's unorthodox training session.
"Welcome back," Itachi said, his tone even. "How's everyone holding up?"
"Better than Kakashi-sensei made it sound," Sakura replied, glancing at their former teacher.
Kakashi simply held up his book as if that explained everything.
Naruto stepped forward, his usual energy bubbling over. "Alright, Hokage-sama, what's the mission? I'm ready!"
Itachi's lips curved into a faint smile as he raised a hand to pause Naruto's enthusiasm. "Patience, Naruto. First, I need to address something." He turned toward Kakashi. "I thought I instructed you to send only Sakura."
Sakura blinked in confusion, her brows knitting together. "Only me?"
Itachi's gaze softened. "It's fine. I have missions for everyone."
"Me first!" Naruto exclaimed, nearly bouncing on the balls of his feet.
"Very well," Itachi said with a slight nod. "Konohamaru has found himself in trouble with the police force. He'll be released from jail tonight. I think it would be best if you reprimand him."
Naruto's grin faltered, replaced by genuine concern. "What happened?"
Itachi's eyes glinted with amusement. "The same reason you were put there years ago."
Sakura's sharp glare immediately locked onto Naruto. "You stupid b-"
"It was ages ago!" Naruto protested, holding up his hands defensively. "I'll fix it, okay?"
Itachi nodded. "Good. Kakashi, you're free to go unless you'd like me to find something for you."
Kakashi shook his head, holding up his book again. "I'll pass." He reached out to grab Naruto by the shoulder, steering him toward the door. "Come on, Naruto. Let's handle this before it gets out of hand."
With a sigh and a wave, Naruto disappeared with Kakashi, leaving Sakura and Sasuke alone with Itachi.
"You, Sakura, have two missions," Itachi began, his calm gaze shifting between the two. "But one of them involves Sasuke."
Sakura frowned. "Why just Sasuke?"
Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed Sasuke's glare directed squarely at his older brother. Itachi remained unfazed.
"From what I've heard," Itachi said, his tone unchanging, "you two have not been in sync. It's important to address that." His gaze flicked meaningfully between the two of them.
Sasuke rolled his eyes, crossing his arms. "This is ridiculous."
Itachi ignored the comment, picking up a piece of paper from his desk. "Your mission is to have dinner with someone highly important. They requested both of you join her and her family. She feels lonely and blames her sons for it. She's also concerned about her father-in-law's plans to move back if she remains unhappy. This would upset her husband. Your job is simple: make her happy and enjoy the meal."
Sakura's eyebrows shot up. "That's it? Couldn't a genin do this?"
Itachi's faint smile returned. "They requested you two specifically."
Sasuke's eyes narrowed. "Who?"
"Someone you know quite well." Itachi's smile widened ever so slightly, a rare hint of mischief in his expression. "The Uchiha clan sent the request. It's from... Mother."
Sakura couldn't help it—she laughed. "You Uchihas are so dramatic."
Itachi's gaze shifted to Sasuke. "Mother told Sasuke to invite you over, but he said you two aren't friends anymore."
"What?" Sakura turned to Sasuke, bewildered. "I didn't say that," Sasuke muttered, his glare intensifying.
"Regardless," Itachi continued smoothly, "you both need to spend five hours together outside of this dinner. No, it cannot be training, and no, you cannot refuse this mission. If you do, I won't offer you any others."
Sasuke scowled. "Mother wouldn't be lonely if it weren't for you."
Itachi raised an eyebrow. "When you get married, you'll understand why you want your own house and not to share walls with your parents."
Sakura's voice was quiet when she asked, "What's the other mission?"
"It's similar to the first," Itachi said, his tone casual. "But this one involves the heir to another clan. Apparently, this person will 'die' if you don't spend time with them."
Sasuke's eyes glared as he thought, Which bastard?
Sakura's eyes widened. "Tell me it's not Ino."
Itachi only nodded.
Sasuke smirked slightly. "You should accept fewer mission requests when they're not serious."
"Relationships are serious, Sasuke," Itachi said firmly, his calm demeanor unwavering.
The room fell into a brief silence before Sakura sighed. "Fine. I'll handle it."
Itachi's expression softened slightly. "Good. For now, focus on the dinner with Mother. And don't forget the five hours."
Sasuke's jaw tightened, but he said nothing.
As Sakura followed him out of the office, she glanced at him, her curiosity getting the better of her. "You didn't really say we're not friends anymore, did you?"
Sasuke didn't answer immediately, his gaze fixed ahead. "I didn't."
She nodded, satisfied for now. Whatever came next, it seemed their missions were going to test more than just their combat skills.
And, judging by Itachi's subtle smile as they left, that was exactly the point.
The next day began as any other for Sakura Haruno, with a long shift at the hospital. Its how she spent her weekends and at least one weekday. She moved efficiently between patients, tending to their needs with precision and care. The workload was heavy but manageable, and she found solace in the structured chaos of her duties. As the sun dipped lower in the sky, signaling the end of her shift, she gathered her things and prepared to leave.
"Heading home already?" a colleague, Dr. Mori, called out as she passed by the nurse's station.
"Yes, my shift is over," Sakura replied, her posture straight and her tone polite as always.
Dr. Mori smiled warmly. "You work so hard, Sakura. I hope your mom is feeling better. Tell her not to skip her medicine, okay?"
Sakura blinked, taken aback, but she quickly nodded. "Of course. I'll make sure she doesn't."
"Good. Have a nice evening!"
"You too." Sakura forced a small smile as she walked out of the hospital.
Medicine? she thought to herself. Mom seemed fine this morning. Her mind lingered on the comment as she made her way through the village streets, the cool evening air brushing against her skin. The thought nagged at her, a faint worry threading itself through her otherwise calm demeanor.
By the time she arrived home, the concern was still on her mind. She set her bag down and headed straight for the bathroom, deciding that a shower might help her unwind.
The hot water cascaded over her, washing away the exhaustion of the day. Afterward, she wrapped herself in a towel and stepped out, her damp hair clinging to her shoulders and back.
As she entered her room, she stopped short, surprised to find her mother, Mebuki, standing by her wardrobe. A pile of neatly folded clothes lay on the bed—dresses and outfits with a distinctly traditional flair.
"You have so many different clothes here," Mebuki said, her voice light, though there was a subtle edge to it. "They look similar to Tsunades. It's like you're taking after her. Like she's your mother."
Sakura felt a twinge of guilt at the words but said nothing. Instead, she allowed her mother to hand her a kimono from the pile, a soft fabric with delicate floral embroidery. She slipped it on silently, tying the sash with practiced ease.
Mebuki gestured for Sakura to sit, then began drying her hair with gentle yet purposeful movements. Her hands, though steady, betrayed a faint tremor, something Sakura had noticed before but never addressed.
As Mebuki picked out jewelry to match the kimono, Sakura hesitated before asking, "Are you feeling okay, Mom?"
"Of course I am," Mebuki replied breezily, though her tone carried a hint of defensiveness.
Sakura frowned slightly. "You're not taking any medicine, right?"
There was a brief pause before Mebuki answered, her voice carefully measured. "No, I'm not. Do you think I should be?"
"No," Sakura said quickly, shaking her head. "I just wanted to check on you."
"If you cared so much about me," Mebuki said, her tone suddenly sharper, "you'd continue our Sunday tradition. But no, you picked your side long ago."
Sakura's chest tightened. "I'm happy, Mom."
Mebuki let out a soft laugh, one that didn't quite reach her eyes. "Good thing that's enough for your father and you."
She turned Sakura around, her fingers deftly applying light makeup to her daughter's face. The touches were gentle but precise, the work of someone who cared deeply about appearances.
"You got your wish," Mebuki murmured as she concentrated on her task, "but I never got mine..."
Sakura looked up, her gaze meeting her mother's in the mirror. There was a flicker of vulnerability in Mebuki's eyes, a glimpse of something unspoken.
"You're sixteen now," Mebuki continued, her voice softer. "A chunin. Working at the hospital. Training under a better mother figure—"
"She's not better," Sakura cut in, her voice firm but quiet. "She's not my mother. You are. She's my teacher."
Mebuki huffed, a faint smile tugging at her lips. "My mother was my teacher. Yet I guess I could only teach you to make cookies. Yay me."
A tear slipped down Sakura's cheek, unbidden and unexpected. Mebuki caught it with her thumb, brushing it away gently.
"Sorry I'm so terrible," Mebuki said with a sigh. "Go have fun at the Uchihas."
With that, she stood and walked out of the room, leaving Sakura to collect her thoughts. The faint sound of a door closing indicated that Mebuki had retreated to her bedroom, likely for a nap.
Sakura sat in silence for a moment, the weight of the conversation pressing heavily on her. Finally, she took a deep breath and stood, preparing herself for the evening ahead.
Sakura pushed the thoughts of her mother aside as she stepped down out of the house and onto the path leading toward the Uchiha district. Her stride was measured, her posture perfect, and her face wore a friendly expression, one that hid the turmoil simmering within.
As she walked through the quiet streets of Konoha, her thoughts drifted back to the words her mother had said. I've been back for a while, but I barely see Mom and Dad... Maybe I should still spend Sundays with them.
She frowned slightly, though she quickly masked it with a neutral smile as a villager passed by and greeted her. When I'm not at the hospital, I'm training. When I'm not training, I'm on a mission... like this one. A stupid mission.
Sakura's hands tightened slightly on the small bag she carried. Yes, she loved Mikoto Uchiha dearly, but here she was, willingly attending dinner at her teammate's home while skipping opportunities to spend time with her own parents.
I'm a terrible daughter, she thought bitterly. And this mission... it could've been avoided if Sasuke hadn't lied. Why would he say we weren't friends? What is happening in my life?
The thought stung more than she cared to admit. Sasuke was her best guy friend, even if their paths had diverged over the past few years. I get that we've been apart, but shouldn't he still think of me the same way? Why does he talk so much more when Naruto's around, but only two words or less when it's just us?
Her pace quickened, her thoughts swirling like an uncontrollable storm. Before she knew it, she stood before the Uchiha clan's main household. Taking a deep breath, she knocked gently on the large wooden door.
It swung open almost immediately, and Mikoto greeted her with a warm smile, pulling Sakura into a gentle hug.
"Sakura! I'm so glad you're here," Mikoto said, stepping back to look her over. "Come in, come in."
"Thank you for having me," Sakura replied, bowing slightly as she entered.
As she stepped inside, her gaze fell to the familiar sight of the slippers Mikoto always set aside for her. The pale pink bunny slippers with bows for whiskers were endearing and utterly unique—custom-made for Sakura. They never failed to bring a smile to her face, and she slipped them on with a small nod of gratitude.
"You see? I kept the slippers," Mikoto said with a laugh, her voice light and teasing.
"They're perfect," Sakura said, her smile genuine now. "Thank you again for them."
Mikoto gestured for her to follow, and they made their way to the kitchen, where the scent of freshly prepared food filled the air. Mikoto busied herself at the stove while Sakura sat at the small kitchen table, the familiarity of the scene easing some of her tension.
Mikoto poured them both tea, handing a cup to Sakura before sitting across from her.
"How have you been, dear?" Mikoto asked, her tone maternal.
"I've been well, Mikoto-san," Sakura replied politely.
"And how has Sasuke been treating you?"
Sakura hesitated for a moment before answering, "Fine. He's been... fine."
Mikoto raised an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced. "And in general? To everyone else?"
"He's quieter now," Sakura admitted, her voice soft.
Mikoto sighed deeply, setting down her teacup. "Ever since he trained with that snake... he hasn't been the same. He won't tell me what happened during that time, but my boy came home a man." She paused, her expression clouded with worry. "And with the Mangekyou Sharingan."
Sakura tilted her head, unsure how to respond.
"Do you know how one gets the Mangekyou?" Mikoto asked, her voice low.
Sakura shook her head.
"You witness the death of a close friend or loved one," Mikoto said, her tone heavy with sadness. "Something happened, Sakura. But we're all alive, so I don't know what could've triggered it. I need you to find out what happened to my Sasucakes."
Sakura's eyes widened slightly at the nickname but quickly composed herself. "I can try, Mikoto-san," she said, her voice polite and measured. "But, as I mentioned, Sasuke hasn't been very talkative lately."
Mikoto nodded, her lips pressed into a thin line. "Itachi told me your whole team came to his office, so he couldn't ask you to do this directly. But I feel like you're the only one who could get the truth out of him. Please, find out what happened to my boy."
Sakura lowered her gaze to her teacup, the warmth of the tea contrasting with the chill that ran down her spine. "I can try," she said again, her tone sincere.
Before Mikoto could respond, the sound of the front door opening echoed through the house.
"Ah, that'll be my husband and Sasuke," Mikoto said, standing and smoothing out her apron.
Voices drifted into the kitchen—Fugaku's deep and steady tone, followed by Sasuke's quieter replies. The two entered the kitchen moments later, their conversation fading as they noticed Sakura.
"Sakura." Fugaku greeted warmly, a rare smile gracing his usually stoic face.
"Good evening, Fugaku-san," Sakura said, bowing respectfully.
Fugaku gestured for her to stand upright. "No need for such formality. You know that."
Sasuke, standing just behind his father, gave her a small nod of acknowledgment but said nothing. His expression was neutral, though his eyes lingered on her for a moment longer than necessary.
"Dinner will be ready soon," Mikoto announced, bustling around the kitchen. "Sasuke, why don't you show Sakura to the dining room? Your father and I will join you shortly."
Sasuke's jaw tightened, but he complied, gesturing for Sakura to follow him.
As they walked, Sakura couldn't help but feel the tension radiating from him. It was subtle but undeniable, a stark contrast to the warmth she'd felt from his family moments earlier.
The dining room was elegantly set, the table adorned with beautiful dishes and an arrangement of fresh flowers. Sasuke pulled out a chair for her, and she thanked him softly before sitting.
"I didn't think you'd come," Sasuke said suddenly, his voice low.
Sakura glanced at him, surprised by the comment. "It's a mission," she replied, her tone light but firm.
Sasuke scoffed quietly, taking a seat across from her. "Itachi's idea of a mission is ridiculous."
Sakura didn't reply, instead choosing to sip her tea and let the silence settle between them.
Moments later, Mikoto and Fugaku entered, carrying platters of food. Mikoto served Sakura first, a clear sign of her fondness for the girl.
"Sakura, you've grown into a fine young ninja," Fugaku said, his tone approving. "I hope you'll visit more often."
"I'll try, Fugaku-san," Sakura replied, her smile polite.
The conversation flowed smoothly throughout dinner, with Mikoto and Fugaku leading most of it. Sasuke remained quiet, his focus seemingly elsewhere.
As the meal drew to a close, Mikoto leaned back in her chair, looking at Sakura with a warm expression. "You know, Sakura-chan, if I had a daughter, I'd want her to be just like you."
Sakura's cheeks flushed slightly, and she bowed her head. "Thank you, Mikoto-san. That means a lot. However, you still have been blessed with Izumi as a daughter-in-law."
Sasuke glanced at her, his expression unreadable, but he said nothing.
After dinner, Mikoto pulled Sakura aside, her grip gentle but firm. "Don't forget what I asked of you," she whispered.
Sakura nodded, her resolve strengthening. She would try to uncover the truth, no matter how difficult it might be.