Chapter Text
Sakura finished zipping up her dress and let loose an exaggerated sigh of relief. Finally, she could go back to wearing normal clothes. She wrinkled her nose at the flimsy, ugly hospital gown she had been stuck in for the past week as she held it at arm's length, pinched between her pointer finger and thumb. With a flourish, she tossed the garment onto her now vacant hospital bed and smirked.
"Good riddance."
Her eyes traveled to the bedside table by the window where her hitai-ate was glinting in the sunlight. She walked around the bed to stand in front of the table, staring down at her headband before lifting a finger to trace the Konoha insignia emblazoned onto the shining metal.
"You were strong."
Sasuke's words to her echoed once again in her mind, as they had been doing every day since he had spoken them. Sakura allowed herself a brief smile before scooping up the headband and marching to the mirror in the adjoining bathroom. She centered the metal on the crown of her head before looping the ends around the back and under her hair. With a decisive tug, she secured the blue cloth in a knot at the base of her neck and let her hands fall back to her sides. Her eyes lifted to study the leaf emblem as it rested amidst her hair.
That headband meant that she, Haruno Sakura, was a kunoichi of the Leaf. It meant that she had earned her place among the ninja of Konoha. She had worked hard to get to where she was.
"You should be... proud."
As Sakura stared at her reflection in the bathroom mirror, she saw a confidence in her eyes and posture that she had never seen or felt before.
'I'll show everyone that I belong,' she thought with determination. 'I'll become a valuable asset, not only to my team, but to all of Konoha as well. I just have to give my all every day.'
She smiled once more at her reflection in the mirror.
'I am strong.'
Then, with her head held high, she turned and strode purposefully out of the room.
***
Thirty minutes and a pile of paperwork later, Sakura was discharged. She thanked the medics who had watched over her for the duration of her hospitalization and made a note to stop by the Hokage Tower and give Tsunade her gratitude as well. With one final wave over her shoulder, Sakura made her way across the lobby and out the front doors.
"Sakura-chan!"
Her head whipped up in surprise. There, waiting by the front gates of the hospital, was her team. Naruto was waving madly with a huge grin on his face while Kakashi stood behind him, looking up at her before snapping his ubiquitous orange book shut and sliding it into his weapon's pouch. Sasuke was leaning against one of the stone pillars that formed the entrance to the hospital with his arms folded across his chest.
"Guys..." Sakura trailed off as she approached them, surprised.
"Yo!" Kakashi smiled behind his mask and ruffled her hair.
One of her eyebrows lifted in puzzlement. "What are you all doing here?"
"Why, we're here to celebrate you getting out of the hospital, of course," Kakashi replied in a light teasing tone, removing his hand from her head.
"We're going to Ichiraku!" Naruto burst out, unable to contain himself. "Kakashi-sensei's treat!"
"If you're up for it, that is," her sensei amended.
Naruto's face instantly sobered. "Um, yeah... If—if you're not too tired or anything," he mumbled in a strained voice, glancing up at her with a pleading look in his eyes.
Sakura couldn't help herself. She tried to hide her smile behind her hand, but the look on Naruto's face sent her into a burst of giggles that had her shoulders shaking. Her hand wasn't doing much to muffle her laughter either.
"Of course I'm up for it! I'm a kunoichi of Konoha, after all. I wouldn't let something like this keep me down!" she beamed at the boy.
The effect was instantaneous. "Yatta! Let's go!" Naruto yelled, pumping a fist into the air and turning to run in the direction of his favorite restaurant. "Ramen! Ramen! Ramen! Ramen!"
Sasuke pushed off the pillar with a sigh and a mumbled "Dobe."
"Oi, Naruto," Kakashi called, strolling lazily after the blonde. "Just because I'm buying Sakura's doesn't mean I'm buying yours."
Sakura stood back and watched, barely stifling her laughter as Naruto came to a screeching halt and turned into a sputtering mess, throwing threats, pleas, and accusations at the Jounin in an effort to save his lunch plans. Her giggles receded into a gentle smile. She was grateful for her their thoughtfulness; this was just what she needed to get back into the swing of things.
"You coming?"
Startled from her thoughts, Sakura looked up to see Sasuke glancing at her over his shoulder, hands stuffed in his pockets.
"Oh! Uh, yeah," she stammered.
Sasuke started walking again, following after Naruto and Kakashi. Sakura stared at the Uchiha crest on his back for a few seconds, remembering his words to her in the hospital. Without really thinking, she took a few quick steps to catch up to the dark haired boy.
"Um... Sasuke-kun?" she called tentatively.
He paused and looked back at her, his eyebrows raised in question.
"Um, thank you. For what you said in the hospital," she fidgeted as she spoke, looking down at her intertwined fingers. "I... It helped me to realize some things about myself and I really needed to hear it. I'm gonna work harder from here on out. I just wanted to let you know I appreciated it. So... yeah. Thanks," she finished lamely.
When he didn't answer, she looked up to see him watching her. She grew even more nervous under his scrutiny and felt a flush began to creep up her neck to her face. After another moment of consideration, however, he nodded his head in acknowledgement and turned to once again trail after the still bickering Naruto and Kakashi.
After pouting one last time at his sensei, Naruto looked back and saw Sakura lagging behind everyone else.
"Oiiiiii! Sakura-chaaaaaaan! Come on, come on, hurry up!" he yelled back to her, beckoning her forward with another excited wave.
"Coming!" she yelled back, jogging lightly to catch up with them.
Sasuke watched as Naruto began to question her about what type of ramen she was going to order before launching into a lecture about the pros and cons of the different flavors. She simply listened with a smile on her face, for once enduring the full force of the idiot's obsession without complaint.
He could see that she carried herself differently than before. She seemed more sure of herself, more secure. Stronger.
He realized as he studied her that he had not completely failed in his role of protector. While he had not been able to keep her from harm physically, he had been able to protect Sakura from herself, from the doubt and uncertainty that would surely have been plaguing her if not for his affirmation of her strength. Even if it wasn't necessarily his intent, his words had helped her to become a better, more confident ninja. He had helped her to improve, to be better equipped to defend herself.
Sasuke smirked lightly to himself at this revelation. He watched as Sakura laughed at Kakashi and Naruto's antics, before his eyes slipped shut and his smirk softened into a faint smile.
He had been able to keep his vow after all.