Sakura and Sai walked down the streets of Konoha to the hospital, exchanging words as they did. This has been a routine for both of them with Sai accompanying the Haruno to her workplace on the way to his. He said that walking with someone you know would help him learn about human emotion and would strengthen their bond. Wanting to help him, Sakura agreed.
"Are you going to the get-together tonight, Sakura-chan?" Sai asked as they halted in front of the Konohagakure Hospital. The said jonin shrugged, "I don't know. But if you'll go then I might as well," she smiled, earning a wide grin from him also. Sai has improved. His smiles are more genuine than before, she thought. "See you later at the gathering, then, Sakura-chan." Nodding, they both separated ways.
Little did they know that they were being watched by a pair of onyx eyes in the distance.
~~~
The lone Uchiha sighed as the blonde dobe began ranting on and on about him and Hinata and about how the infamous Uchiha should get a girlfriend before the festival. "I don't get your problem, teme! You were cold with Sakura-chan when she was yours and now that she's with Sai, you refuse every girl that's interested!" he whined. Sasuke ignored him and just looked out the window as he saw both of them chatting away happily. If Sai could make her happy, then why bother? A voice inside the Uchiha stated. The voice was indeed true but the raven haired male couldn't accept why Sakura replaced him in her heart with an emotionless guy who had the same features as him.
The same raven hair though his was flat, the same onyx eyes that held secrets beyond measure, the same pale skin that made girls swoon, the same cruel past that led them to have their cold and heartless personalities.
"Maybe she has a thing for cold guys!" Naruto exclaimed, snapping Sasuke from his thoughts. "What are you doing here dobe? I thought you have a date with Hinata?" he smirked as Naruto began scrambling for the door. He had no idea why the ramen-addicted chunin kepton bugging him in terms of romance... Wait, that dobe keeps bugging me for no reason!
~~~~
"Sakura-sama!"At the mention of her name, Sakura spun around, about to say yes when the medic team brought in Sai in a stretcher. "What happened?" she asked, hurryinmg to his aid. "Sai was going on a mission to deliver an important document to Suna when he was attacked, good thing Chi and Onika were there for back-up while Mia delivered the document," One of the medic explained. "What about the other two?" Sakura began to attend to his needs while being filled in with the informtion. This was her typical response to any victim. She knows the quick explanation of the situation first and then cures his/her wounds as quickly as possible.
"Luckily, Sai gave them instructions to become a distraction in order for the Mia to escape and deliver the document. As soon as she was out of sight, they carried Sai back here whilst fighting the attackers." Sakura nodded. This was serious. Of what importance was that document to the bandits? Are they a new threat to Suna and Konoha?
"S-Sakura-chan?"
"Calm, down, Sai-kun. You'll be okay in a bit," She said while injecting some tranquilizers to the badly injured shinobi. This was going to take a while because he had a few broken bones and a huge burn on his right thigh. "Arigato... Sakura-chan..." He said with a smile before closing his eyes.
~~~
After Sai was admitted to the hospital, Sakura decided that she wouldn't go to the party. What would I do there anyway? She sighed as she made her way back to her apartment. Might as well sleep.
For once, I agree with you.
Sakura groaned as her inner voice began to come alive inside her head once again. Thank the heavens you only talk at night, she scowled as the inner voice began throwing insults inside her head.
"Sakura-chan~!"
Snapping out from her mental arguments, the pink haired medical nin looked up to find Ino and Hinata on the steps of her apartment. "Konbanwa, minna! What brings you here?" She said as she greeted them both. "W-We just wanted to walk with you to the gathering, Sakura-chan," Hinata stated. Even though she and Naruto were officially together, she was still shy around people but not as timid as before. "And we wanted to make sure you were going, forehead!" Sakura sighed at the blonde's obvious reason. This has been her mission now, to get her into a relationship with someone. Pretty much like Naruto, except Ino wasn't rooting for Sasuke and Sakura.
"Fine, you should come inside though, it's getting pretty chilly here." As the two visitors sat in her living room, Sakura began to change into something casual inside her room. You're going to miss training, if you go, you know. She sighed, nodding her head. Uchi Naru had "matured" when she snapped, causing her remarks to be important and somewhat relative to her plans. But she was a young adolescent after all. She ought to have some fun, but because of her goals, she set a limit for herself. A limit to show that no matter what the situation may be, she will be strong enough to shoulder the burden.
"Oi, forehead! You done, yet?" Ino popped her head inside her room as Sakura was zipping up her vest. "Yeah, yeah, I'm coming. Jeez, can't you wait, Ino-pig?" She rolled her eyes as she turned off her bedroom light and walked with the other two outside, locking the front door on the way.
Just have fun. You have to.
~~~
While the three girls were walking towards the party, Sasuke endured the moment of being stuck with Naruto and the others. Munching on some chips, Choji started a conversation between the bachelors. "What takes women so long to get ready?" he whined. "When my family go out for an occasion, Mom is always the last one to be finished," The pineapple head nodded in agreement. "True. What about you, Naruto? How long does Hinata take to be ready for your dates?"
"Ah, eh. Well..."
Choji and Shikamaru started laughing about Naruto's blush upon the mention of his girlfriend getting "ready". Apparently, the Uzumaki had something else in mind. Though no one noticed, the lone Uchiha smirked at how ridiculously lucky Naruto was for having a girl such as Hinata. Not that he had feelings for the Hyuuga or anything, but because he knew that he will get back the girl that was once his. She didn't let go of him, he let her slip away from his fingertips, because he was too blinded by his quest for vengeance.
Now you realize that, huh?
"We're heeerreee~!" The door slammed open and revealed Sakura, Hinata and Ino who just made a grand entrance into the karaoke room Sasuke noticed the absence of the pale raven-haired Anbu and smirked. Without him in the way, she's good as yours, a voice in his head stated deviously. What are you thinking about, Uchiha! Get yourself together! He shook his head in disapproval.
Don't do anything stupid tonight. You have to gain her trust first before you make a move.
~~~
Hello, dears! Here's the first chapter of our sequel! I hope you like it! Feedback and suggestions as well as your votes and shares are greatly appreciated. I hope that you were satisfied with this first chapter and if you haven't got a clue about this story then you better read the first novel! Check it out on my profile @yoshiuchihasan and then come back and read this. Thank you!
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto Shippuden nor its characters. Events, places, and other landmarks are either from the series/movies that I do not own or from my own mind. Every thing in the story is of fan FICTION. The cover picture I used is also not mine and if it's yours and you want it to be taken away, then shoot me a message so we can avoid arguments. If you want to be put in the credits for the AWESOME picture, then I'd be more than happy to do so. It would be an honor to have your art as my cover, you know. :D
Happy reading!
Love,
Jet